A BUSINESSMAN has been left devastated after tens of thousands of pounds of cards went up in smoke in a fire.

Fire services spent hours battling the blaze at the card warehouse in New Hall Hey Road Business Park, New Hall Hey Road, Rawtenstall, this morning.

Six pumps attended the fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately.

Police have arrested a man in connection with the arson attack.

Dorber Collection 2000 Ltd owner and managing director Brian Meager said he had used his life savings to set up the business eight years ago.

The 775 square foot industrial unit, which had £40,000 of cards on 14 foot racks, also housed all the receipts, invoices and accounts for the business.

He said: "There are holes in the roof and everything has been destroyed by the fire.

"I am totally devastated.

"It was eight years of my life and it has gone in a few hours.

"It will take months to get myself set up again.

"the business was worth hundreds of thousands of pounds - it was my livelihood .

"Fire services believe it was deliberate. All my records, invoices and computers are gone so I don't even know where to start."

The business, run by Mr Meager and his partner, is insured and the assessors are due to look around the fire ravaged industrial unit tomorrow.

The businessman sells the cards to franchisers who then supply them to shops around the country.

Mr Meager, who had also left his passport and flight tickets for a holiday to Tenerife at the unit, said he will have to look elsewhere for a suitable unit.

Police and fire crews are treating the fire as suspicious.

Rawtenstall crew manager Darrell Cemm said the building was well alight when they arrived.

He said: "It looked like all the industrial units were on fire because there was smoke issuing from the eaves of all the building.

"But the smoke had percolated through the other units but the fire had not spread to the other units.

"We are treating the fire as suspicious and the police are investigating it."

A police spokesperson today said the male arrested was being questioned.

He said: "We have arrested a male in connection with the fire and he is due to be questioned.

"It is being treated as arson."