A BUSINESSMAN said he was ‘absolutely gutted’ after his sweet shop and building business was set alight in a suspected arson attack.

Police and firefighters were called to reports of a loud explosion at Sweet Memories in High Street, Rishton.

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When firefighters arrived at the scene they found the building was well alight.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing children at the rear of the building moments before thick grey smoke could be seen billowing from the property.

Police said neighbours reported hearing a loud bang before calling the emergency services. People from neighbouring flats also had to be evacuated.

An investigation has been launched to establish the cause of the blaze and arson has not been ruled out.

Firefighters said the blaze started in the rear yard of the building and spread to to the back of the property, which also houses PH Sealants.

It is believed the fire caused thousands of pounds of damage to the property and damaged stock.

Business owner Paul Hacker, 38, said: “The firefighters are saying they think kids have been at the back and set fire to the rubbish.

“Somebody spotted the fire and tried to put it out but he said the kids were hitting the rubbish with hammers to try and get it to spread to the building, which it obviously did.

“I am absolutely gutted and obviously very angry. You work hard to set up a business and try to give local people work and then somebody comes and does this.”

Mr Hacker, who also runs the Kings Arms in Clitheroe, said he was working in Manchester when he got the call to say his building was on fire.

He said: “I had just arrived at a McDonalds where I was supposed to be doing some silicone work when I got the phone call to tell me what had happened.

“I thought they were joking at first but obviously when I got back there I realised they weren’t.

“It’s just devastating. I hope the police catch whoever did it and quickly. It might be a laugh for them but it’s not funny to me. The only positive thing I can take is my building is still here.”

Two crews from Hyndburn Station were at the scene for around five hours following the blaze which started at around 7pm on Sunday.

Eight firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went in to the building and used two hose reels to put the fire out. Extractor fans were also used to clear smoke from neighbouring shops.

Hyndburn station crew manager Gary Drinkwater said: “We were initially called to reports of a fire in the back yard of a property in High Street, Rishton. Then we got a second call to say the fire had now spread to the building so we sent two appliances from Hyndburn Station.

“There has been a fire at the back yard and then it has gone through in to the building. It has properly gutted the back of the building which is a builder’s merchants. When we arrived it was well alight. The front of the building is smoke damaged.

“Two teams of four firefighters have gone in to the building wearing breathing apparatus and managed to get the fire under control with two hose reel jets.

“We have also used two positive pressure fans to clear smoke. The neighbouring businesses were heavily smoke logged. We had to evacuate people from the flats next door.

“There is no structural damage to the inside of the building but the back of the building has totally gone.

“The cause of the fire is under investigation and we are not ruling out arson.”

Inspector Simon Holderness said: “We were called to reports of a loud explosion at a shop in High Street, Rishton, at around 7.15pm on August 19. The shop has had a lot of rubbish in it and there has been a loud bang from the property which has alarmed the neighbours.

“We believe an item within the rubbish has combusted and made a loud bang. It may have been an aerosol.

“The cause of the fire is under investigation.

“Nobody has been injured.”

Any witnesses are asked to call the police on 101.