A JETTY has been torched in an arson attack.

Firefighters were called to a fire on the Manchester Ship Canal in Runcorn, near Moore Nature Reserve on Moore Lane.

Crews used a main jet to fight the fire from the bank side.

A barge later arrived to enable firefighters to deal with the incident from the waterside as well.

There were lifejackets at the scene for firefighters' safety.

Once the fire was extinguished crews cooled hotspots from the bankside.

Firefighters standing on the barge on the water damped down three jetties to prevent reignition.

They also wet a jetty from the bankside.

Firefighters were at the scene for more than three hours.

The fire is believed to have been started deliberately at around 12.15pm yesterday.

Anyone with any information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Firefighters also tackled a woodland and peat fire on Whitebeam Close in Windmill Hill, Runcorn.

Crews were called to a fire in the open at around 2.30pm yesterday and discovered approximately three square metres of woodland and peat smoking.

Firefighters using beaters to extinguish the fire and were in attendance for around 45 minutes.