Teens arrested for arson

THREE teenage boys were arrested after a ‘large’ blaze in a derelict house in Runcorn.

Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service said the incident was in a detached property and was reported on Irwell Lane at 6.33pm on Tuesday, June 12.

Two appliances from Runcorn and one from Penketh attended.

Investigators believe arson to be the cause.

A picture posted by Di Harrison on Twitter showed smoke pouring from the building.

There was still a faint smell of smoke when the Weekly News visited the scene the morning.

The house’s upper windows were smashed and the ground floor was boarded up facing onto an overgrown front garden.

Hazardous area tape featuring a ‘do not cross’ warning was tied to the front of the house.

Debris including two old couches, a mattress and tyre were left deposited by a side wall.

A passerby said the top windows had been vandalised with stones.

A fire service spokesman said crews, four wearing breathing apparatus, used two hose reel following jets, one covering jet, ceiling hooks and a large fan to extinguish it

He said: “A joint police and fire investigation into the cause of the fire is under way, although it is believed to have been started deliberately.

“Three 13-year-old boys were arrested by police on suspicion of arson, and have since been released under investigation.

“Crews were at the scene for two hours and 50 minutes.

“If you have any information about the incident then please call Cheshire police on 101, quoting IML 91753.”