VANDALS started a fire at a derelict church in Greenock yesterday.

Crews from Greenock fire station raced to the hall of the former Cartsdyke Church in Crescent Street after receiving a call just before 4.25pm.

Smoke billowed into the sky from the fire on the building's roof as firefighters used high-pressure hoses to tackle the blaze.

Crews were at the scene for around two hours, being stood down just before 6.30pm.

A spokesperson for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said: "One appliance attended. The incident was relatively minor." Sergeant Ian Wood of Greenock police today confirmed that the incident was being treated as wilful fireraising, although nobody has yet been charged.

Yesterday's fire follows a massive blaze which tore through the church in November 2009.

Fencing was erected around the building after it was declared unsafe by building control at that time.

The church has been unoccupied for a number of years, despite a London-based businessman previously gaining permission to convert it into 14 loft-style apartments.