ANIMAL lovers in East Lancashire have rallied round in support of a dogs’ home that was burnt to the ground in a suspected arson attack.

Charities including Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, Pendle Dogs in Need, and Hyndburn Stray Dogs in Need all offered their services to Manchester Dogs’ Home.

A fire at the kennels in Harpurhey saw at least 43 dogs die, but last night £1million had been raised to help the charity rebuild.

Volunteers from Bleakholt, in Edenfield, visited the scene of the fire as soon as reports of the incident started to emerge on Thursday evening.

They offered food and blankets, as well as freeing up five kennels at Bleakholt’s Bury Old Road base.

Paula Knowles, from Pendle Dogs in Need, said her group had managed to clear eight spaces for injured dogs from Manchester, although eventually the dogs went elsewhere.

She said: “All we could do was free up some space and offer our help. We were pretty limited as to what we could do because they ended up asking people not to come down.

“We all feel like we need to step up and do something. We freed space up in case it was needed, but the dogs went to Cheshire.

“I just can’t believe it. My phone started ringing the moment everyone heard. We just didn’t know what to do. it’s absolutely horrific.

“Animal lovers do rally round, we know that from previous experience ourselves.”

Steve Woods, from Hyndburn Stray Dogs in Need, said space was still limited towards the end of the summer holidays.

His group has been using its Facebook page to encourage donations to the Manchester and Cheshire Dogs’ Home.

Mr Woods said: “If we had any space, we would make it available. It was amazing to the see the response of the rescue community.

“Although it’s a terrible tragedy, some good has come out of it.”

More than 150 dogs were rescued from the fire, which happened at around 7.20pm on Thursday.

A 15-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of arson has been released on bail.