FIRE chiefs have confirmed they believe a blaze which swept through a Failworth mill last week destroying a gym owned by former world boxing champion Anthony Crolla was started deliberately.

Eight appliances and two aerial units fought blaze at Morton Mill which was started on Sunday, March 29 with crews on the scene for several days.

There was widespread disruption in the area with roads closed and residents advised to keep their windows and doors closed.

The building, shared by at least 10 small businesses including Crolla's gym, has now been partially demolished.

An investigation was launched into the cause of the fire amid suspicions it was started deliberately.

Now, amid a warning about other nuisance fires being set by youths during the coronavirus lockdown it has been confirmed by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service it was an arson attack.

According to GMFRS between March 23 and 29 firefighters were called to 183 nuisance fires, up from 90 from Maqrch 16 to 22.

Most incidents involved rubbish, grassland, small waste containers - not including wheelie bins - and scrubland.

Among the incidents crews attended, were bonfires started by groups of teenagers, trees and rubbish being set on fire, camp fires, grass deliberately set on fire and quantities of rubbish set on fire.

GMFRS head of prevention, Paul Fearnhead, said: “While it is not uncommon to see an increase in this type of fire at this time of year as the weather gets warmer and drier it is incredibly disappointing to see it happening in the first week of the new stay at home measures and the schools being closed.

“These smaller fires can become very serious incidents, especially if started when it is dry in an area such as the moors.

"We all saw far too clearly just how devastating a moorland fire can be back in 2018 when our firefighters spent weeks tackling them across Greater Manchester and just this weekend we assisted colleagues from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service dealing with a large moorland fire near Bolton.

“We have also dealt with two significant incidents over the past week, one at a (Morton) mill in Failsworth and another at a commercial property in Swinton, if our crews are being called to deal with these nuisance fires they cannot be available to tackle these large incidents.

“We all need to play our part and I would urge people to please follow the Government guidance and only go out when it is absolutely necessary, while we know most people are doing so, some people are still not, and some are even starting fires when they are out. It is unacceptable that this is happening and I would urge everyone to think carefully about what they are doing and the impact it can have.

“If you are not going out to buy essential groceries, to receive medical care, for their one piece of exercise a day or to go to work that cannot be done from home, then they should be in the house. I’d ask parents to remind children as well of their responsibilities in these challenging times.”

It is also important people are being safe at home while we are spending more time in the house, you can read more on this here.