A STAND at a football club was damaged in a suspected arson attack today.

The fire was started in a wooden stand at the Showground stadium, Wood Street, which belonged to the former Great Harwood Town.

A passer by on his way home from work raised the alarm at 4am.

The fire destroyed about three square metres of the stand.

Alex Fletcher, crew manager at Accrington fire station said: "A number of lager cans and a football were found the stand.

"We presume it was kids messing about who started the fire. .

"The fire is being treated as suspicious."

Great Harwood Town folded last July after the Robins failed to find an investor to buy the Showground stadium.

Directors needed £1 million to buy the ground and refurbish the dressing rooms which were destroyed in an arson attack 18 months previously.

Monroes Nightclub, next to the ground, was also destroyed in the attack.