A TEN-YEAR-OLD girl has been arrested by police investigating a series of arson attacks -- including the £150,000 blaze at an Accrington DIY store.
The girl was arrested following a suspicious fire in an outhouse behind Krunchy Fried Chicken, Blackburn Road, Accrington, last night.
Police are linking the blaze to a fire which was started at Barnes Furniture store, Cannon Street, Accrington, on Friday and the massive blaze which ripped through the GlynWebb DIY store at 6.15pm on Thursday.
The arrest came after officers issued a CCTV still of a girl they wanted to question in relation to the GlynWebb blaze, taken as she left the shop shortly before the fire was spotted.
The girl, from Accrington, is old enough to face criminal charges as the age for criminal responsibility is ten. She has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
The GlynWebb blaze caused about £150,000 damage when it broke out on the first floor, engulfing the store in flames.
Thick smoke was made worse by burning chemicals and firefighters spent 40 minutes fighting the flames.
People in the store escaped down the stairs and through the rear exit. Four members of staff were treated for smoke inhalation and shock.
Initial findings from investigations by firefighters and forensic experts suggest the fire was started deliberately.
The fire comes nine years after the store had to be rebuilt following another fire.
On September 27, 1995, an electrical fault was blamed after a blaze gutted the store, causing £1million damage.
GlynWebb has 25 stores across the country.
A spokesman for company said it needed to discuss the fire with its insurers before deciding on the future of the building.
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