Fire bugs target bowls pavilion

A RAGING blaze came close to wrecking the dream of a new bowls pavilion at Dunwood Park in Shaw last night.

More than £1.3million has been granted by the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the pavilion and gardens.

But the project came under threat as vandals set fire to timber resting at the side of the building just days after transformation work began.

Fire crews raced to the scene at 8.30pmwhere they spent 45 minutes dampening the flames.

The Friends of Dunwood Park group have worked tirelessly to achieve the grant and money from the council and had planned a grand opening of the pavilion in June. It’s been their wish to transform the local beauty spot into a tranquil haven for locals.

Group chairman Cath Jones (pictured) said: “It’s disappointing this has happened. We’re just starting to see our dreams realised. The contractors only arrived on site this week.

“It’s lucky that none of the building work has been done yet, but we’ll forge on as planned and we’re all really looking forward to getting it finished.”

Mike Harris, watch manager at Chadderton fire station, said: “The timber has been destroyed.

“It had caught on the eaves of the building but we managed to contain it and prevent damage to the building.”

It’s thought a group of youths may be responsible.