ARSONISTS who caused £200,000 of damage to a local firm were caught in the act by security cameras.

They struck at the tube and plumbing suppliers Ashworth Frazer on Sunday (Sept 14) afternoon.

The alarm was raised at 3pm when a resident saw smoke billowing from the premises on Higher Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe.

Five fire crews from Bury, Whitefield and Farnworth spent almost an hour tackling the blaze crews

Managing director Mr Harold Billingham said: "It is mindless vandalism. Work has been badly disrupted and the damage caused is going to affect our operations for months to come."

He estimated that around £200,000 of damage had been caused, £80,000 to one wagon alone.

The vandals broke into a warehouse started a tractor unit wagon and used it to shunt a flat backed lorry through metal shutters into another wagon.

They then hoisted the tractor unit with a crane before dropping it. The unit was then set alight.

Youngsters, playing in the vicinity of the premises, were captured on video. Now, the tape has been handed to Bury CID which is studying the footage.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.