Tonedale Mill was hit by an arson attack on Sunday.

Wellington fire fighters were deployed to tackle the blaze, which they said was caused deliberately.

Two fire engines arrived on the scene where crews discovered a small fire in one of the mill's buildings.

The fire spread to the roof, forcing crews to dismantle the plasterboard ceiling to confirm the fire had been fully extinguished.

It came during a busy weekend for the station, which attended four call outs on Sunday, including responding to reports of a fire in a skip at Chelston business park.

The 19th century mill once employed 3,000 people, but parts of it have fallen into disrepair, with efforts to revive the site having largely come to nothing so far.

The police have launched an investigation and have carried out door to door enquiries near the scene. In a statement a spokesperson for Avon and Somerset said:

"We were called by the fire and rescue service following a fire in a derelict mill building in Wellington on Sunday, July 9, which is being treated as deliberate.

“Officers have carried out house-to-house enquiries in the area as a result. 

“If anyone has relevant information and hasn’t yet spoken with the police, please call us on 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5223163876.”