THE owner of a Horwich company who saw his firm go up in smoke in an arson attack has praised other businessmen for helping him cope. David Lightbown, who runs Framing Madness, said he had been overwhelmed by help especially from fellow enterprises on Fowler Industrial Estate. Mr Lightbown's picture framing business was destroyed in the attack on Saturday night.

Thousands of pounds of timber and other materials used for framing pictures were damaged in the blaze.

Mr Lightbown said: "We are still routing through and seeing what we can save.

"What is amazing is the amount of people who rallied around and said: 'What can we do to help?'

"They have been very supportive and the council has asked what it can do."

Mr Lightbown has moved his business but is still waiting to find out whether his expensive machines are able to be repaired before he can operate again.

The industrial unit where he was based, owned by Bolton Council, was completely destroyed

His firm, which he set up first in Preston in 1995, employs five people.

Mr Lightbown, who lives in the Turton area, said the fire had upset his family, in particular his two young daughters.

He said: "They said to me: 'Daddy, why has somebody done it. Do they not know how hard you work and that you've got children.'

"They just can't believe it."

Police are investigating the blaze.

A 13-year-old boy was arrested following the fire and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

The youth, from Horwich, has also been interviewed in connection with a string of arson attacks in the town over the past few months.

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