NEARLY 100 firefighters from across the county fought as fire ripped through a converted mill in Hoddlesden and today investigations were under way to find out how it started.

Flames could be seen for miles as the four-storey Vale Rock Mill - converted into work premises for several firms including Cooper-Rigg Ltd and Hoddlesden Village Garage body shop - was reduced to rubble.

An investigation, also involving police, has been launched into the cause of the blaze which started about 3.45am yesterday and the county's chief fire officer for Lancashire Mr Gordon Russel said: "We re not in a position to say where the fire started or how it started until we have completed it."

The mill on Johnson New Road contained several gas cylinders and 3,000 litres of flammable liquid but firefighters managed to stop the blaze spreading to nearby buildings.

Police arrived after a burglar alarm sounded at 3.45am to find the second and fourth floors of the building well alight.

Sub-officer from Accrington Fire Station Aiden Fortune said: "The main four-storey building was destroyed. Crews were working around the clock with jets to stop the flames from spreading through the majority of the extensions which jut out from the side of the mill."

The road was closed and staff from Old Rosins Inn, Pickup Bank, Hoddlesden, had to drive miles out of their way to reach their workplace on Sunday morning.

Mr David Innes, manager of Hoddlesden Village Garage, said the firm were operating after making emergency plans to set up site across from the mill.

He said: "At present we don't know how bad the damage is because we have not been allowed into the building.

"There were 45 cars in the workshop, including a £40,000 BMW. At least 35 of them have been destroyed. We have redeployed staff and are asking customers to be patient."

Derek Omston, co-owner of steel fabricator Cooper Rigg, added: "Our two major contracts at the moment are the new grandstand at Aintree and Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre.

"Our offices have been destroyed and the power is off, which is going to hold up our work. But we will not stop trading."

Demolition firm Rodney Sumners, of Nelson, have already moved in to dismantle the remains of the mill.

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