A FORMER old persons home in Bury, being used as a drugs den, has suffered severe damage by fire.

Squatters are being blamed for starting two fires in the disused Primrose Cottage Nursing Home in Hudcar Lane on Wednesday night.

Piles of rubbish were set alight in a ground floor room and in the attic space. When two crews of fire fighters from Bury arrived at the scene at 9.20pm, flames were shooting through the roof.

Fire fighters said the building was littered with used syringes and sleeping bags.

Now, local police have launched an investigation into the fire and are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact them on 0161 856 8150.