Fire sees 13-year-old boy arrested after building gutted

Smoke plumes can be seen rising into the sky

The fire gutted the former Co-Op Bank building at High Street and Westgate after it broke out at around 7.30pm on Tuesday (September 15).

Lancashire Police closed a number of roads in the area and people were asked to avoid the scene and keep windows and doors shut.

Pictures from the scene showed the building well alight and thick smoke rising into the sky as firefighters battled to bring the fire under control.

Firefighters have remained at the scene today (September 16) damping down the remainder of the blaze while police and fire crews investigate what happened.

Police say that arsonists entered the building and set it alight before making off.

Last night, a 13-year-old boy from Skelmersdale was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage - arson not endangering life. He remains in custody.

A police spokesman said: "We were called at around 7.50pm last night (Tuesday) to reports of a fire at an abandoned building on Westgate, Skelmersdale.

"We attended and found offenders had entered the building and set it alight before making off.

"A short time later we arrested a 13-year-old boy from Skelmersdale on suspicion of criminal damage – arson not endangering life. He remains in custody.

"Our enquiries are very much ongoing and anybody with information is asked to get in touch on 101, quoting log number 1307 of September 15."

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire Service said:"We have eight fire engines from Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside at a derelict building fire on High Street, Skelmersdale. We were called around 19:30 and crews are battling to bring the fire under control.

"Lancashire Police have closed a number of roads in the area and the public are advised to stay away from the scene. If you can see or smell the smoke, please keep your windows and doors shut."

"Thefire service confirmed at 12.20am today (September 16), the blaze was brought under control.

The site had been empty for several years and had been earmarked for a new Aldi after the discount retailer submitted an application in 2019.

That application is still pending and no decision has been made by West Lancashire Borough Council.