A WOMAN is helping police with their inquiries after a suspicious fire caused serious smoke damage to the basement of a large mill early today.

The 43-year-old, who lives locally, was due to be questioned at Colne in the wake of a probe by police and fire officers.

Two crews from Nelson and the brigade's incident support unit were called to Marsden Mill, Nelson, at 1am after clouds of black smoke began to pour from the basement.

A spokesman said the fire damaged a quantity of paper and carpet in the basement and caused severe smoke damage to the caretaker's flat on the floor above.

The occupant managed to get out of the flat to safety. Firefighter Simon Fryer said: "There was a quantity of junk in the basement which had set alight and which created a lot of smoke and problems for us.

"We called in the incident support unit. They brought the ventilation fan to help clear the smoke from the building.

"The cause of the fire is being investigated. Police were at the scene while we were there."

The mill is used by curtain manufacturers Northern Nets and its parent company Rosebys. Around 200 people work at the two firms.

Northern Nets finance director Michael Jones said: "None of the production areas has been affected. There was some smoke damage in the basement but that's about it."

Work was continuing as normal at the companies today.

Police said they were treating the fire as suspicious. A 43-year-old local woman was helping police with their inquiries. She was due to be questioned by officers at Colne police station this morning.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.