Viking centre rebuilt after arson

The hut was targeted by vandals

A Viking long house education centre has been rebuilt by retail staff after it was targeted by arsonists.

The large wooden purpose-built hut used by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust in Penwortham was damaged by vandals who set fire to it last year.

The hut was shaped as a Viking long hut and was used for wildlife education.

Senior managers from the Mall, which has centres in Preston and Blackburn, spent two days rebuilding the hut as part of a teambuilding exercise.

The hut will be used for primary school children to learn about sustainable living, through role play and re-enactment of Viking life.

Loraine Jones, general manager at The Mall Blackburn, said: "It is hard to imagine why anybody would deliberately destroy such a worthwhile project."

She said that she hoped the workers' legacy would be enjoyed "for a very long time".