FOUR Congleton teenagers have been bailed by police investigating a major blaze at a disused mill.

The children were arrested following a fire on Thursday night at a mill on the banks of the River Dane in the centre of Congleton.

More than 30 firefighters tackled the blaze at the mill, alongside Mill Green bridge at the bottom of Rood Hill.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus initially fought the blaze from inside the three-storey building.

However they withdrew for safety reasons after the roof collapsed, and battled the fire from outside.

Police said the fire caused damage estimated at around £100,000.

The fire was fought by fire crews from Congleton, Macclesfield, Holmes Chapel and Biddulph.

Firefighters played water on the building, using hosereel jets, from above using a hydraulic platform from Macclesfield Fire Station.

The platform was positioned on the bridge, which forced the closure of Rood Hill from the roundabout to the junction with the Clayton Bypass.

Sub-officer John McDermott from Congleton Fire Station, said the fire was being treated as a suspected arson attack.

Congleton firefighters were the first to attend just before 8pm.

Mr McDermott said the fire spread quickly to the roof, which started to collapse.

"We had to withdraw crews from the building at that point, and two-thirds of the roof has gone," he said.

Four teenagers, two boys and two girls, aged 13 to 16, were arrested by local police and interviewed in connection with the fire.

They have been bailed by police until November 20, pending further inquiries.