POLICE have launched an arson investigation following a fire at a bird hide yesterday evening, Wednesday.

Two fire engines from Warrington and Stockton Heath fire stations rushed to the Trans Pennine Trail off Eastford Road at around 8.45pm.

On arrival at the scene, near to the River Mersey and Centre Park, firefighters discovered that the bird hide was ‘well alight’ and ‘heavily involved in fire’.

A bird hide is a shelter which is often camouflaged to enable people to watch wildlife, especially birds, at close quarters.

Because of the remote location of the fire, an appliance was unable to get close to the scene.

As a result, firefighters used a water backpack to put out the flames, began cutting away at the structure and started to damp the area down.

An additional fire engine attended to assist with getting sufficient water supplies by pumping from open water.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the hide is suspected to have been set alight deliberately, with Cheshire Police informed of the blaze.