AN historic mill, which has been the site of several blazes in recent months, was targeted by arsonists again last night.

The office block of the former Creams Paper Mill, which occupies a large site in Little Lever containing a number of buildings, was badly damaged in the incident.

The mill is 330 years old and was the oldest mill in Europe until it shut in 2004.

It was owned by Mondi Paper UK until September when the building was sold. The mill closed four years ago due to £1m losses and escalating energy bills.

The two-storey office building, on the secluded estate off Mytham Road, was set alight just before 5pm.

Youths are believed to be responsible and it is the fourth arson attack on the derelict mill in three months.

The fire involved the first floor and roof of the brick building, with the fire well developed when crews arrived.

Fire hoses were stretched more than a quarter of a mile to the nearest water supply.

Firefighters were last night expected to remain at the scene into the early hours damping down and monitoring the incident.

The building was badly damaged.

Watch Commander Danny Marshall, of Farnworth Fire Station, warned youngsters against playing in the area.

He said: “It is a dangerous place to be in and people shouldn’t be down here.

“They are putting their own lives at risk and with incidents like this, firefighters’ lives at risk.

“We have been tied up on a fire which didn’t need to happen, when we might be required elsewhere.

“Our resources could have been put to better use. We will be pushing to get the building demolished or made safer.”

Three fires were started in a production warehouse on September 11, damaging the extension and an older part of the mill.

On September 17 an outbuilding was targeted and another fire was started at the mill on October 17.

Creams Paper Mill was established in 1677, under the name William Broadbents.

Mondi Paper UK has sites across the UK, including a mill in Ramsbottom.