Arsonists target canal barge

Crews from Rotherham and Elm Lane Fire Stations were forced to close College Road, Rotherham, at around 6.40pm last night, when fire broke out on the boat moored near to Rotherham railway station.

It took around five hours to extinguish the blaze in an operation which saw two fire fighters board the stricken vessel to douse it with water.

A fire service spokesman said: “The barge was well alight when the crews arrived at the scene.

“The incident has been logged as deliberate and it will now be left to the police to investigate the circumstances of the fire more thoroughly.”

The barge was eventually extinguished at around 11.30pm.