A FORMER care home which has been empty since its closure has been targeted by vandals.

Lancashire County Council has had to secure Hill Top, in Baxenden, and install a new alarm system to deter troublemakers.

There are plans for housing association Calico to develop the site but it is still bidding for funding to carry out the work.

Now, the building in Manchester Road has been standing empty and has become a playground for young vandals.

At a meeting of Baxenden Area Council, chairman Coun John Griffiths said he had been contacted by a resident in nearby Newton Drive who had noticed that the lights in the building had been on at midnight.

He said: "Whoever had got in had just vandalised the whole place.

"Powder fire extinguishers had been set off, they also turned a hosepipe on and flooded the building. Why they would do something like this, I just don't know."

Sergeant Bob Eaton, from Accrington police, told the meeting they were investigating the incident.

He said: "A fire extinguisher went missing and we have had some information come in to us that a young lad was seen running through Oakhill Park carrying one."

Coun Wendy Dwyer said the county council had now secured the building.

She said: "The gas and water have been turned off and an alarm system has been installed.

"We are grateful to the person who told us about the break in."