A TEN thousand pound reward has been put forward by the owners of a tourist attraction that was destroyed by arsonists.

In July last year a fire at Cumbria World in Flookburgh was reduced to nothing more than a smoke-blackened shell.

Initially it was thought the fire was due to an electrical fault, however CCTV evidence recovered showed two individuals breaking into the building, and setting it alight.

Sharon O'Brien, one of four directors of the managing company, said: "When we took over the site in March 2016 we were on a lease purchase, and everything was going fine.

"On July 5 last year we turned up for work, we saw it was on fire, we weren't allowed in at first until all the smoke had cleared. It was just black smoke, the smell of plastic, you couldn't see.

"When we gave the insurer our CCTV, it came to light that it was arson. There were two thugs who threw bricks through the window and threw a fire bomb through."

The damage to the fledgling business was catastrophic. Smoke damaged toys, melted plastic and charred remains was all that was left of £600,000 worth of investment in the fledgling business.

She continued: "It was devastating."

The investigation into the arson is ongoing, but the seeming lack of progress has pushed the directors of Cumbria World to offer a reward for information.

They will pay £10,000 for anyone who comes forward with information which leads to a successful conviction.

Miss O'Brien said: "It might help us."

In spite of the extent of the damage, giving up was not an option for Miss O'Brien and the other directors.

She said: "We want to keep it going, it was a good business; we have the caravan park next to it.

"It was either pack it up or make a go of it outside. If we hadn't carried on we'd have lost so much money. We had to give it a go outside."

Due to insurances problems, they have not been able to get back inside to repair the fire damage.

As a temporary measure, and with the Easter holidays fast approaching, the directors have decided to erect temporary outdoor buildings, to keep the business open.

"We are opening up again on the first of April," Miss O'Brien said.

There will be soft play, a zip wire and other attractions. The directors are hoping to mitigate as much disruption as possible until they can get back inside the original structure.

If anyone has information regarding the fire in Moor Lane, Flookburgh on the night of July 4/July 5 2016, they should call 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800111555.