A HISTORIC mill building gutted by an inferno has been targeted four times in two months by arsonists.

Crews manning six fire engines and a turntable ladder spent hours battling flames which left the century-old Roe Lee Mill, Blackburn, a blackened shell.

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And firefighters revealed they had been called out to deliberate fires at the site last weekend, and twice in June.

A probe is now under way to catch those responsible, and will likely focus on people spotted running away from the scene, in Whalley New Road, on Sunday evening.

Following the blaze, which took hold at 9.15pm and saw 30 firefighters tackling it at its peak, a 21-year-old man from Blackburn was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

He was arrested in the early hours of yesterday morning on suspicion of arson and spent yesterday being quizzed by detectives.

Watch manager Caroline Harrison led the operation to battle the flames.

She said: “There were witnesses there who said people had been seen running away from the mill,” she said.

“We were working to protect the south side of the building backing on to the housing estate. Embers were going over to domestic properties.”

Two fire engines remained damping down yesterday and seeking out hot spots.

Specialist fire investigators also began their search for clues among the charred wreckage.

The mill was opened in 1912, and welcomed King George V and Queen Mary a year later during their grand tour of East Lancashire.

The Royal duo also visited Roe Lee Park, which was gifted to the people of Blackburn by the mill’s owners, and laid the foundation stone for King George’s Hall.

The mill fell into a state of disrepair in recent years, with a planning application to flatten it lodged in 2013.

Permission was later granted by Blackburn with Darwen Council after planning chiefs agreed that, despite its cultural significance, the mill was in such poor condition it was unlikely to ever achieve listed status.

The main mill building was pulled down, although the large building torched, used by a carpet company until several years ago, remained.

Cllr Phil Riley said the building, also believed to have been used as offices in the past, was in the middle of a proposed housing development.

“There’s a piece of land broadly running from the Brownhill roundabout to The Farthings Pub,” he said.

“That is the land being put forward potentially for housing development.

“This building sits slap bang in the middle of it.”

“Fires are very dangerous and I have got a lot of sympathy for the owner of the property.”

Chairman of the Friends of Roe Lee Park group, Jason Walker, said: “It has become a magnet for problems but it’s a derelict building and it draws kids to it.

“It has only been a matter of time.

“I’m surprised health and safety has not been up before now. All the windows were smashed, there has been all sorts dumped it, and there has been kids in there every weekend.”

On June 10, yobs set fire to rubbish on the second floor. Smoke was spotted coming out of the third floor windows by passers-by, and the emergency services were called.

Eight days later, a rubbish fire was reported within the grounds of the premises and, last Saturday, two teams of firefighters spent two hours putting out another rubbish fire on the second floor.

Sunday’s blaze takes the total number of fires at the site up to eight in five years.

It was also the second major incident the fire service dealt with in the space of 24 hours.

Crews earlier tackled a fire that produced toxic black smoke in Great Harwood and destroyed TCS Waste’s plant.

Four skip wagons and other industrial machinery at the Heys Lane firm was also wrecked, in what Hyndburn crew manager Andy Pennington said was ‘possibly suspicious’ circumstances.

A police spokeswoman said: “We would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact police on 101, quoting log number 1495 of August 2.

“Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”