FIREMEN battled thick smoke to stop a blaze at a Blackburn factory spreading into an adjacent works.

The blaze started in the weaving shed of the British Needlefelt Co’s mill in Laburnum Road, at Skew Bridge, as workers were having lunch in the canteen.

Part of the roof of the single storey building crashed in without warning and large sections, including heavy tiles, missed firemen who were fighting the flames inside, by only inches.

Dense clouds of smoke poured out of the mill gateway and firemen could be seen amid it, silhouetted against the bright flames.

Only one wall separated the fire from the adjacent Prestige Mill and flames were licking between the eaves.

Director and general manager of BN said the fire had destroyed £20,000 of jute and carpet underlay, and damaged machines.

It was believed the fire was caused by instantaneous combustion in one of the jute bales.

The generosity of Blackburn folk was highlighted as donations were received to help a mum, whose son had been found dying in Pleasington Street.

The help fund was sponsored by the vicar of St Luke’s the Rev James Barnes and within a couple of days £50 had been collected as local folk pushed envelopes through the vicarage’s letterbox.

The Accrington branch of Union of Post Office Workers was threatening not to handle General Election addresses, if wage negotiations had not come to a satisfactory conclusion. An offer from the Paymaster General of a four per cent rise, equating to 9s 4d, a branch spokesman commented: “never have so many waited for so long, for so little.

“The Paymaster General is playing ducks and drakes with us and being Mr Scrooge.”