BOSSES at Padiham FC revealed today that arsonists had caused £1,000 of damage at the ground.

A fire, which started about 6am on Saturday, damaged several plastic seats and part of a wooden barrier in a stand at the Arbories ground.

Officials said today the fire would cause financial difficulty for the club, which plays in the North West Counties League division two and was away at Crook Town playing in the qualifiers for the FA Vase cup on the day of the blaze.

The Storks' commercial manager Bob Clarke, who is also Padiham mayor, led the clear-up operation. He said: "Luckily, on the day the fire happened the team was playing away near Durham, in a major tournament.

"The police and fire brigade were called out and we started clearing up straight away. There has been an inspection and the damage is going to cost us about £1,000.

"To a small club like Padiham this is a major thing. We regularly hold fundraising events and it seems every time we raise even £100 something like this happens.

"Like all small clubs we are always struggling for money and this makes it very difficult."

Firefighter Malc Nuttall, of Padiham fire station, said: "The fire appeared to have been started deliberately.

"A few chairs and a wooden barrier were destroyed and several other chairs damaged."