Fire and police were called to an ‘arson attack’ at a dessert restaurant in Bolton in the early hours of this morning – with the fire starters fleeing the scene.

Three fire crews from Bolton Central and Bolton North attended Heavenly Desserts on Deansgate at 1.20am after reports of an arson attack where one door was smashed and another set on fire.

When fire attended the scene, sprinklers had extinguished the fire but there was flooding within the restaurant which was dealt with by the firefighters.

Fire crews were in attendance for approximately two hours and fire investigation and police will attend the building this morning to continue investigation works.

Watch manager Hinsley of Bolton Central Fire Station said: “We were called to an incident at Heavenly Desserts at 1.20am where we believe there has been an arson attack.

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“So when we arrived, one of the front doors had been smashed and another had been set on fire.

“The sprinkler systems had activated, and it extinguished the fire, so crews were in attendance to investigate and had to deal with flooding as we couldn’t stop the sprinklers.

“Three fire engines attended, two from Bolton Central and one from Bolton North.

“Fire investigation along with the police will be in attendance this morning to investigate it.

“There were no injuries and no persons there at the time, apart from those who caused it, but they fled the scene.

“We were in attendance for two hours.”

Police have been approached for comment.