A house has been destroyed after exploding into flames in the early hours of the morning.

Four fire crews were called to the “inferno” on Cumberland Avenue, Clayton-le-Moors at around 2am on Tuesday. They are treating it as suspicious.

Hyndburn crew manager Andy Coulton described the incident as “a very serious house fire”, but thankfully no-one was injured.

He said: “The house has virtually gone. The windows had blown out 10 to 15 feet away from the property. It was definitely an inferno. On arrival the whole house was engulfed in flames and had exploded.”

He added: “Nobody was in the house at the time. People who lived in the house had been evacuated before we arrived. Our priority was trying to to save the adjoining properties, which we did successfully. It’s being treated as suspicious.”

Fire service search and rescue teams were at the scene on Tuesday morning to help to secure the end terrace house.