ARSONISTS torched a Bolton factory causing thousands of pounds worth of damage last night.

Firefighters were alerted at midnight after nearby residents spotted flames shooting from part of the Gilnow Mill, off Spa Road, Bolton.

Fire crews from Bolton Central station found the building well alight. They used a hydraulic platform to help prevent the fire spreading to a nearby factory.

The blaze wrecked the first storey factory, Direct Upholstery Supply.

But fire crews saved an adjacent wood-stripping factory owned by David and Peter Wood. David Wood said: "We were very lucky. At first we thought the whole building was ruined. But, because of the concrete ceiling and the efforts of the firemen, we were protected."

Fire crews were still at the scene this morning carrying out investigations.

Sub Officer Jack Pennington said: "The police have been informed that the fire is malicious. It looks like someone broke in through a side door and set the factory on fire."

Factory owner Roland Tuke, who has been at the Gilnow Mill site for more than 15 years, was devastated when he saw the damage. He said: "I have had trouble with children throwing bricks through my windows but I have never had anything like this happen. I am very shocked."

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