A SUSPECTED deliberate fire caused severe damage to an empty house in Blackburn.

Two fire crews spent an hour and a half dealing with a blaze in Stansfeld Street in the Mill Hill area on Wednesday at 6.30pm.

The fire caused considerable fire and smoke damage to the first floor of the terraced property but did not spread to other houses in the vicinity.

Nobody was hurt in the fire but the incident is now being thought of as suspicious after two boys aged between nine and 11 were seen in the property.

Anyone with any information should contact 01254 353921.