THE quick reaction of a passer-by prevented a 90-year-old Bolton church from being destroyed in an arson attack.

The man raised the alarm when he spotted a group of youths breaking into the Hebron Christian Church in Mayor Road, Deane.

The youths set hymn books and bibles alight in the entrance hall and within minutes the fire spread to wooden door frames and carpets.

But firefighters, alerted by the passer-by, arrived at the scene within minutes on New Year's Day and quickly brought the blaze under control. They prevented the fire from spreading from the foyer to the church itself.

Today church leaders were still counting the cost of the damage, which has left a special needs group temporarily without a base.

The damage to the church entrance, and a clean-up operation which was under way yesterday, is likely to force Bolton West Day Centre out of its home at the church for up to a week.

Church elders, including the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Cliff Morris, were still surveying the damage last night.

"It's a terrible start to the New Year but we can at least count ourselves lucky," said Cllr Morris. "If it had not been spotted when it was, we would have been looking at a lot more damage.

"The church is used not only by worshippers but also by a group which helps people with special needs. They may now have to find an alternative venue for a few days, but we are waiting to hear from Social Services.

"In the 90 years we have been here we have never had anything like this.

"Sadly, there does seem to be a vandalism problem in the area and we will have to look at extra security which will cost money."

Church leaders have reassured churchgoers that services this weekend will go ahead despite the fire damage to the entrance hall.

Police are treating the incident as arson. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555111.