AN ARSON attack gutted part of an isolated farmhouse just two days before councillors were set to decide on a controversial plan to convert it into a home for traumatised youngsters.

Detectives and scenes of crime officers worked with fire investigation officers to establish the cause of the massive blaze at Far Brex Farm, Coal Pit Lane, Whitewell Bottom, Waterfoot, on Saturday.

Station Officer David Bent, of Rawtenstall fire station, said: "There were two major seats of fire at either end of the building and evidence that some sort of accelerant was used.

"One of the fires has not caught hold properly and that half of the building is less seriously damaged but the other has gutted the other half of the house."

Detective Inspector Colin Barton, of Rossendale CID, said: "It is being treated as arson. We think the fire probably started around six o'clock and had been burning for a while before the alarm was raised.

"We have spoken to people living in the area. I know it was early but I would ask anyone who was in the area around the farmhouse at the time to contact the police." Information can also be given via the arson hotline recently set up through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Firefighters were called to the farmhouse at 7am and took three hours to get the blaze under control. The fire was still smouldering yesterday. Firefighters used water from an indoor swimming pool to tackle the blaze and the pool was "topped up" by a relay of fire engines taking water from the nearest hydrant around a mile away.

Councillors making a fact-finding visit to the vacant farmhouse before a meeting today found the building they were meant to be looking at going up in flames.

Rossendale Council's engineering and planning committee was due to discuss a plan to convert the farmhouse into a private home for six children, aged between eight and 19, with two or three staff supervising them. The committee was recommended to grant planning permission despite 19 letters of objection.

Three weeks ago, Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson wrote to the council asking them to investigate claims by her constituents that the applicant was not willing to give details of the application.

"Most of the young people will have suffered some trauma and the purpose of the unit is to provide therapeutic input to enable them to either return home or to their local area after a period of time," according to a statement by the applicants.

Opponents claimed the farmhouse was unsuitable because the road leading to it is single track and often accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles. They also claimed the environment would be "alien and dangerous" to residents, the building was in poor repair and it would be an inappropriate use.

Social services did not object to the scheme.

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