Large fire reported in Longton as plumes of black smoke billow into sky

Huge plumes of thick smoke were seen rising over the village after the dilapidated Ladybird Lodge in School Lane caught fire at around 7pm.

Four fire engines were called to the site near Longton Primary School and the recreation ground, with crews working at the scene until around 9.30pm.

The fire service said the cause is believed to be suspicious and has been reported to the police.

A police spokesperson said: “It has been reported to us and we are investigating. Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting log 1395 of August 15, 2023.”

A fire service spokesperson added: “At 7.02pm, four fire engines from Tarleton, Bamber Bridge, Preston and Penwortham attended a derelict building fire on School Lane, Longton.

"Firefighters used two hose reels and three hose reel jets to extinguish the fire.

"Crews were in attendance for two hours and thirty minutes.”

What’s happening with Ladybirds Nursery School?

The timber framed building used to house Longton Ladybirds Nursery School, which was first registered in 1992.

In 2018 it was rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, but the nursery closed down around the time of the Covid pandemic.

Since then it has stood empty and is said to have “reached a point where it needs to be demolished for safety reasons and is beyond the point of repair.”

In April this year, council bosses gave the go-ahead to a new village nursery school to replace the crumbling Ladybird Lodge.

A planning application by Mrs Michelle Melling to demolish the old nursery and replace it with a new single storey building was approved, including a request for opening hours of 8am to 9pm seven days a week with "mixed use" over evenings and weekends.