ARSONISTS torched a Scout hut in Elton, risking the lives of the Scouts holding a meeting inside.
Firefighters were called to the blaze at the hut on School Lane at 7.34pm on Thursday, November 29.
One fire engine from Ellesmere Port Fire Station attended but Scout leaders had already extinguished the flames before they arrived.
A statement released by 1st Ince and Elton Scout Group confirmed: “An attempt to set fire to the building was made while a meeting was in progress, which resulted in our normal fire evacuation procedures being triggered.
“The leaders in charge at the time managed to extinguish the fire, however, the fire brigade attended as part of our standard procedures.”
Firefighters fitted smoke detectors at the hut before leaving the incident in the hands of the police.
Cheshire Constabulary spokeswoman Shelley Williams confirmed police attended after reports of a small fire.
She said: “At the time a number of Cubs and instructors were inside the building. Nobody was injured but had the fire not been discovered and extinguished quickly there could have been serious repercussions.
“Two youths were sighted near the Scout hut in the time before the fire was reported and police are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed anyone behaving suspiciously in the area, to contact PC Kevin Ferguson on 101.”
