COUNCIL bosses have warned an historic shelter in Burnley’s Towneley Park could be removed after it was set alight by yobs.

Firefighters battled a blaze at the shelter, off Towneley Park Road near Unity College and Fulledge Recreation Ground, for around 40 minutes but it was left with severe damage to a roof panel.

The incident is the second attack on the stand in a week - leaving park chiefs pondering whether to remove it altogether.

Coun Charles Bullas, Burnley Council’s executive member with responsibility for Towneley Park, said there was a “safety issue” following the fire.

He added: “It was set on fire by some mindless idiots for some reason and our officers are now assessing the situation.

“If it is so bad we will take it down but it would be shame to rip it down, although we have to consider safety.

“If we do take it down it will be for those reasons and we will assess whether we need to put something in its place.”

The decision will be made “very quickly”, added Coun Bullas.

A council spokesman said he “deplored the damage” caused by a “mindless minority” and said officers would liaise with police before acting.

Firefighters were called to the shelter at around 8pm on Monday.

The shelter had earlier been targeted by arsonists last week and also in July 2001, when the roof was completely gutted. Meanwhile, a fire last year damaged part of the roof space.

Burnley Council has used a £3.2million heritage lottery grant to carry out improvement work across Towneley Park in recent years.