A SUBSTANTIAL reward is being offered by furniture manufacturers Buoyant, of Nelson, to hunt down arsonists who caused nearly £50,000 of damage.

Four articulated trailer units and contents were destroyed and a fifth was seriously damaged after a fire spread between the units within minutes on the car park at the rear of Oak Bank Mill, Hallam Road.

Plant engineer Andy Burnett said: "The night watchman saw smoke coming from one of the containers and called the fire brigade out at 8.53pm on Friday.

"He had earlier seen youths playing in the area. He opened the gates and the fire brigade was on site within two minutes.

"The fire was started in the end container which contained hessian sacks which are used to cover finished suites. The flames were fanned by the wind and spread from one container to the next.

"We are grateful to the firefighters for acting so quickly because they were able to save the other trailers in the line of nine."

He said the trailers contained mechanisms for reclining chairs worth £20,000, in addition there was the cost of the trailers which were destroyed in the blaze.

The reclining mechanisms are imported from America and Mr Burnett said a shipment had docked today and so the company's production should not be affected by the fire.

Detective Constable John Wright said: "A substantial reward is being offered by the company for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the offenders."

He said investigations were continuing and anyone with information should contact 01282 472782 or any police station.

Two years ago the company was bought out by the Wade Furniture Group and 350 people are employed on the site.