A FORMER nursing home in Cliviger was severely damaged in a suspected arson attack early today.

Parts of the historic building -- believed to date back to the 1500s -- were gutted in the blaze, which began around 4am.

The Holme, a two-storey building in Burnley Road, has been for sale for several months. Its closure was blamed on the lack of funding to care for the residents.

Firefighters from Burnley, Nelson, Accrington and Padiham tackled the fire.

The first floor of the main wing of the building was destroyed and it was believed a chimney at the back of the building may have been left unstable.

Station officer Steve Cope said: "The main part of the building was brought under control within about two hours.

"We managed to keep the fire within the main part and stopped it spreading into other parts and hopefully we have saved the stone structure. If it had been a modern building which had burned down it wouldn't have mattered as much but this is a very historic building and we wanted to try and save as much as possible.

"We were told there was a priceless fireplace in one of the rooms damaged."

An arson attack was carried out on the building a few months ago damaged the doorway.