A FARMHOUSE that was to be converted into an executive home has been wrecked in a blaze started by arsonists.

It is believed almost £500,000 worth of damage was caused to an empty building at Asmus Farm, off Brookfold Lane, Harwood.

The fire was started late on Tuesday night.

Flames and smoke were spotted billowing from the house early yesterday morning.

Fire crews were called to the scene and worked for more than an hour to put out the flames.

But part of the stone building will have to be demolished after being weakened by the heat of the fire.

Watch Manager Ian Ainsworth of Bolton Fire Station said: "When we arrived, the building was a burned out shell and the roof and floors had been destroyed.

"At the moment we are putting the cause of the fire down to arson.

"I would estimate that the fire was started after dark on Tuesday, but because of the remote location of the farm and the direction of the wind, the fire service was not alerted until the morning.

"The two chimneys and part of a wall beneath the gable end are unstable and will have to be demolished and we have left the scene in the hands of contractors."

There are a total of three buildings on the farm: two houses and a single-storey barn, but the fire did not spread to the neighbouring buildings.

Neighbours said they expected the farm to be turned into homes.

The buildings are owned by property developer Lee McCarren, who did not want to comment at the farm yesterday.