Police probe suspected arson attack at Parr's Bank Hotel on Winwick Rd

Two waste bins were torched outside The Parr’s Bank Hotel on Winwick Street at 5.20am yesterday, Saturday.

Fortunately, a night porter spotted the blaze and firefighters were at the scene in minutes.

Police are now investigating CCTV footage after cameras captured a suspect appearing to deliberately set fire to two large refuse containers.

The aftermath of the fire (Image: Parr's Bank Hotel)

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service believed the fire had been caused by a discarded cigarette but CCTV footage shows a man appearing to throw a lighter into the waste bins.

Owner Yaad Johal said: “Within minutes it was a ferocious blaze.

“Flames were 10-foot high.

Debris left after the bin fires (Image: Parr's Bank Hotel)

“People could have died. If we didn’t have a night porter, that fire could have spread to the wooden terrace and the fencing could have gone up.

“We had 20 guests fast asleep.

“Where the flames were going up someone was sleeping in a bed.

“Fortunately, the fire truck came really quickly. Another five minutes and we would have had to evacuate.

“When I watched the CCTV I was in shock.”

This suspected arson attack, he said, is the latest in a spate of anti-social incidents in the area since the building has undergone major renovation.

The hotel, near Central Station and the bus station, used to have an outdoor garden terrace but this had to be dismantled due to constant vandalism.

The hotel had to dismantle their outdoor floral terrace due to vandalism (Image: Parr's Bank HOtel)

Yaad, 34, and wife Pavan, 31, say they have invested around £1.4 million to transform the former Natwest Bank into a luxury boutique hotel.

“We’re really struggling with constant anti-social behaviour when we are trying to create a luxury brand," said Yaad.

Guests used to dine in the outdoor floral terrace (Image: Parr's Bank Hotel)

“I’m a local lad, born in Warrington. Me and my wife bought this place and have invested seven figures.

“We are offering a high-end product.

“We have 10 rooms at the moment and plan to have another five in the summer.

“We have turned the banking hall into a wedding venue and hosted many events including a private dinner for the Bank of England.

“But it doesn’t matter what we achieve, this end of town has always had a rough element and big anti-social problem.

“We keep reporting it to the police and reminding the council.

“Something needs to be done.”

The hotel employs round-the-clock security to protect guests.

“We have a created watertight CCTV network,” said Yaad.

“We have someone on site 24/7 to deal with anything that happens.

“Our night porter does hourly walks and is constantly looking at the CCTV.

“This is a luxury establishment.

“We have door security for all our events. Our guests always expect a high level of service.”

Anyone with information about the arson attack should contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting IML 1799389.