Three eighteen-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of arson following an incident at the RAF Upwood airfield.

Police cars and a helicopter were deployed after a fire at a building on the disused base at 6.44pm last night (Thursday).

The three teenagers remained in custody at Thorpe Wood police station today (Friday).

Claire Webster, 24, a recruitment consultant who lives on nearby Hart Road, said: “When I first looked just after 8pm there were three police cars there and the helicopter. A little while later a fire engine showed up, I couldn’t see a fire as I think it was further into the base - close to the business units - but there was a large group of people and police waiting around.

“They seemed to have gone by the time it got dark – but there were still a few vehicles and people with torches out there until about midnight.”

She said that there had been incidents involving young people climbing the fence behind her house to access the base.

She added: “The neighbourhood is very quiet in general – with nice public greens for children to play on – but it seems that children must get to an age when there isn’t enough for them to do in Upwood or Bury.”