THOUSANDS of pounds worth of damage was caused today in a suspected arson attack on a caravan storage site.

At least 17 caravans were damaged in the blaze, at Paintin's Caravans, Leyland Street, Accrington, with at least eight being destroyed.

Firefighters received several calls alerting them to the fire at about 4.40am. Four fire engines and more than 20 firefighters tackled the fire.

Station officer Derek Trotter of Accrington Fire and Rescue Service said: "At first it looked like it was just two but on closer investigation it turned out to be three separate fires, two of them close together.

"The damage was quite substantial."

Police scene of crime officers were called investigate the cause of the blaze.

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