A 14-year-old girl has been arrested after a large fire broke out at an abandoned manor house in Liverpool.
Firefighters were called to the 18th-century Woolton Hall on Tuesday evening but the blaze has now been extinguished.
Merseyside Police said the teenager had been questioned on suspicion of arson and released on bail.
Pic: PA
The force said initial inquiries suggest the fire was started deliberately.
Detective Inspector Daniel McWhinnie said: “This appears to have been an extremely reckless act at a historic building that has stood at the site for hundreds of years.
“We know the community will be rightly shocked by what happened and we are determined to find all those responsible.
“We received reports of youths congregating near the hall shortly before the fire was reported, and we would appeal to anyone who was there or knows who was there to contact police.”
DI McWhinnie urged parents whose children were out on Tuesday night to “enquire about their movements and what they might know”.
Woolton Hall, built in 1704, previously served as an army hospital, hotel and convent. There was another fire there, also attributed to arson, six years ago.
Drivers with dashcam from the Speke Road area around the time of the fire are also asked to contact police.
Others with relevant information can get in touch with police on social media, by calling 101, or anonymously via Crimestoppers.
