Winter Hill fire: Man arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, announce Lancashire Police

20-year-old from Wigan held as blaze continues to burn more than a week after it first broke out

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting a huge blaze on a moorland in Lancashire.

The suspect, from Wigan, is being held in connection with the fire at Winter Hill, which has spread across several square miles of countryside since it broke out last Thursday.

Lancashire Constabulary said in a statement on Friday the man had been detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger.

A force spokesman said the investigation is continuing.

The arrest comes as some fire crews from Greater Manchester were released from tackling the blaze after good progress was made.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who visited the scene on Friday morning, thanked firefighters for their actions.

“They are working incredibly hard and the public are so grateful for their efforts,” Mr Burnham said.

“Good progress is being made and over the weekend there will be five Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service appliances supporting Lancashire."

Fire chiefs declared a major incident last Saturday after two large-scale blazes either side of Winter Hill merged because of increased wind speed.

A 22-year-old man was arrested last week on suspicion of starting one of the fires and later released under investigation.

On Wednesday, Greater Manchester Police announced it was also treating a separate wildfire on Saddleworth Moor, around 25 miles southeast of Winter Hill that broke out on 24 June, as arson.

Witnesses reported people lighting a bonfire on the moor near Stalybridge on the evening the blaze started.

The fire has now been brought under control by emergency crews, but still continues to burn.

Army troops assisting firefighters on Saddleworth Moor were stood down on Friday after nine days of carrying out work including digging trenches in an effort to stop the fires spreading.

Around 100 troops from the Royal Regiment of Scotland have been involved in the operation but the order for military support will not be extended into the weekend.

Additional reporting by PA