INTRUDERS have been warned they could be placing themselves and firefighters in jeopardy after another arson attack at a former Burnley club.

Firefighters were alerted to a blaze in the first floor of the former Circulation Club in Holmes Street on Saturday night.

And while the crew was able to extinguish the flames before they could spread to neighbouring properties, a senior firefighter is concerned that the next time they might not be so fortunate.

Watch manager Steve Harrison said: “This incident could have been much worse, if it has not spotted when it was. It had the potential to be a very large and hazardous fire.

“Both fire engines were at the scene of the fire at the club for approximately three hours.”

Firefighters had to conduct a search of the building to ensure no-one remained inside.

Neighbours said they had seen youths breaking into the former club after removing security coverings and police, working with firefighters at the scene, found evidence of several previous small fires having been set.

The venue, originally known as Pentridge Mill, has not traded as licensed premises for several years but has previously also been home to a kick-boxing club and a strip club.

And two years ago there was speculation that the site could be transformed into a 64-bed ‘student village’, to meet the growing need for educational accommodation.

The weekend incident is not the first deliberate fire to tear through the premises, with firefighters spending two hours tackling four separate blazes there in July 2010.