A MAN has been charged with starting a fire at a takeaway in Padiham which caused an estimated £30,000 damage.

The fire at the Taj Gourmet in Burnley Road, Padiham, was spotted by a patrolling police officer at 4.30am yesterday.

He alerted the fire and rescue service and tried to tackle the blaze with a fire extinguisher from the police vehicle.

The ground floor restaurant was severely damaged.

A police spokesman said the fire had been started deliberately.

Padiham man Stephen Marsden, 32, was arrested and was due before magistrates at Burnley today charged with arson.