POLICE were today due to quiz a teenager in connection with a suspected arson which ripped through a retail estate in Accrington.
More than 60 firefighters battled for more than three hours to extinguish the blaze in the roofing of CBS mail order, Halford's and Netto in Eastgate.
The incident started at about 4.30pm yesterday.
Crews were called in from across East Lancashire, including Blackburn, Rawtenstall, Burnley, Padiham, Great Harwood and Oswaldtwistle, as well as those from Accrington.
Fire crews said it was unclear how the fire started, although it quickly spread through the roof timber of the three stores.
Firefighters successfully worked to prevent the blaze spreading to a fourth store, Poundstretcher, by breaking a hole in the felt roofing and hosing the fire from the inside the roof.
Incident commander, divisional officer Stuart Tracey, said: "We don't know at this stage how the fire started, although we have launched an investigation to try to establish the exact cause.
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