A GRADE One listed building which has been plagued by firebugs was hit by fire in the early hours of today.

Half of Sykeside Mill at Manchester Road, Haslingden, was destroyed by the blaze, which broke out at 3.30am.

Forty firefighters from Accrington, Rawtenstall, Haslingden and Bacup stopped the fire spreading to the rest of the derelict textile mill.

When the eight crews from all over East Lancashire arrived at the former Wills Fabrics, Sykeside Mill, Syke Road, the three-storey mill premises was well alight.

Leading Firefighter Andy Sasimowicz, from Rawtenstall Fire Station, said: "The floors of the mill were soaked with oil and there was some rubbish.

"When we arrived the three-storey section of the mill was well alight and the fire had gone through the roof. It was of doubtful origin."

Assistant Divisional Officer, Mick Holmes, of Accrington Fire Brigade, said: "The crews did very well. There was a very real chance of the fire spreading to the rest of the complex."

The mill closed in January last year when the 42 workers were made redundant. Since then it has been set on fire a number of times and the owners have tried unsuccessfully to sell it. Currently the premises is in the hands of the receiver. The building was understood to have been listed for renovation into an industrial and textile museum but it now looks likely to be demolished.

A small building inside the mill collapsed and there was still pockets of the building on fire at 8am.

Two crews were stationed at the mill for the rest of today and an investigation is being led by the station commander of Rawtenstall Fire Station.

No accelerants or other signs of arson were found by firefighters at the scene but the mill has a history of incidents with small fires being started inside.

"This was a serious fire and my colleagues, along with the police, will be doing everything to find out what caused it," said ADO Holmes.

Sgt Mick Heyworth said: "The slip road from the A56 had to be closed and although it was later reopened there was still a problem for traffic because hoses were across the slip road pumping water to the fire crews.

"The local authority building inspector will be asked to examine the premises today."

The mill is only a short distance from Duralay where a large fire destroyed most of the stock at the carpet underlay manufacturer's mill on Broadway on November 21.

Fire investigation teams were due to start work at the site today once it was declared safe.

Meanwhile firefighters in Darwen are treating last week's blaze at Accrue Plastics on Lomax Street as arson. Anyone who was in the area at the time of the fire last Thursday should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.