A POLYTUNNEL at an East Lancashire nature reserve targeted by arsonists has been replaced thanks to the help of a Colne company.

Thousands of pounds of reeds had to be transferred to Chester Zoo after vandals set fire to the structure at Samlesbury's Brockholes Nature Reserve last summer.

Northern Polytunnels based in Waterside Road donated a new tunnel, which has now been filled with 26,000 common reed plugs, 5,000 of which will be going to Lunt Meadows, and the remaining 21,000 will be sold to generate income for the reserve or be planted on Brockholes' Meadow Lake.

Alan Wright, senior campaigns officer at the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, said they were extremely grateful to Northern Polytunnels for saving something that was so important to the reserve.

He said: "The tunnel has always been really important as a place to grow reed beds firstly and also a great little shelter for volunteers who spend a lot of time outside and need a place to have meetings and a cup of tea.

"The fact that they have got it back gives them a base to work from and we're really grateful to Northern Polytunnels for their generosity.

"The vandalism on the tunnel was a mindless act and it makes you worry about the mentality of the people that did it, there was no reason for it.

"But the fact that Northern Polytunnels have stepped in to sort it goes to show that there are so many nice people out there as well who see these things happen and want to put them right.

"Our volunteers are so special to us and to the whole county really so we are so pleased they have a new tunnel."

The polytunnel had been the nursery for five years before it was attacked in August last year when the blaze damaged the structure, soil and plants.

Volunteers had to wait until last week to start building the replacement tunnel as calm weather was required for its installation.

Nigel Carr, commercial director for Northern Polytunnels, said the company was very happy to help out a local reserve in need.

He said: "I don't think they had an awful lot of money in their budget at Brockholes and we wanted to offer our help.

"At the end of the day no one can help vandalism and we always try and help local companies where we can."