A FIRE which ripped through a shop destroying thousands of pounds worth of goods is being investigated as arson.

Police are appealing for witnesses and said the fire at the premises in Queen Victoria Road, Burnley, may have been started to cover up a burglary as investigations had revealed the till had been taken.

Firefighters were called to the convenience store, which used to be the sub-post office, at 3.10am yesterday and battled the blaze for an hour.

Police and fire officials said that a brick was used to smash a window to get into the property before the shop was ransacked. A fire is then believed to have been started.

Thousands of pounds worth of goods in the store, which sits below an empty flat, were destroyed, firefighters said.

No-one was in the property at the time although fire-fighters initially believed it may have been occupied.

Watch manager Peter Ashworth said the fire may have been started to cover up a burglary.

He said: "It seems there has been a burglary there.

"Someone has thrown a brick through the window and gained access to the shop by breaking the glass. After that they have ransacked the place. They have then started a fire and this may have been to cover up the burglary. At this stage we just don't know."

"It was quite a severe fire and when we got there there were flames coming out of the window.

"We have no idea what started the fire because there was a lot of combustible things such as toilet rolls but they have all been destroyed."

DC Marc Craven, of Burnley CID, said: "We believe the fire was suspicious and we are investigating. It probably was a burglary because the till has been taken but our inquiries are on-going and we are appealing for any witnesses."