ARSONISTS who caused £150,000 of damage to an historic house in the centre of a Blackburn park were today warned: "You will be caught."

Fire crews spent two hours putting out the blaze at the Bowls House, in Corporation Park on Wednesday evening.

The house had been used as a base for tennis and bowling clubs in the past.

Police have now launched an investigation and are working with Blackburn with Darwen Council. CCTV footage may provide pictures of the culprits.

The park is currently at the centre of a £2.5million Heritage Lottery project, and final plans to restore the park to its Victorian hey-day are being drawn up.

And Coun Kate Hollern, in charge of leisure and culture at the council, said: "It angers me beyond belief that people do this sort of thing.

"It won't affect our work on the park and our plans for the future. There is a tiny minority trying to cause damage, but they will be caught.

"They have caused £150,000 worth of damage as a result of some stupid, pointless act. Corporation Park is something Blackburn with Darwen is very proud of and we won't let it be wrecked."

The building has more recently been used as a toilet block and Pam Simons, from the Friends of Corporation Park action group, said: "It is very sad, just wilful damage.

"But my concern is that it is more than just a park problem. Whoever did this obviously gets a kick out of it and what is to stop them from doing it again, somewhere else, where lives could be put at risk?

"In the short-term it means a loss of use of toilets for the bowlers, which is all that historic building was used for, although it was part of the lottery plans."

Corporation Park ward councillor Paul McGurty said: "We need to see police action taken on this matter to prove to the vandals they can't just walk in and destroy our park."

Bowlers who use the greens on the park have been without a permanent pavilion for nearly two years following the last big arson attack on the park.

The council is currently seeking funding to build a new one within the next year.

The conservatory in the park, set to be the focal point of the venue once it is revamped, has also been vandalised several times. Anyone with any information on the arson attack can call Blackburn Police on 01254 51212.