PUNTERS were briefly evacuated from a pub in Blackburn town centre after a fire.

Three crews were called to The Last Orders, on the corner of Darwen Street and Jubilee Street, after smoke filled the cellar at around 8.20pm on Friday.

The pub was closed for around an hour, although there was no lasting damage to the interior.

Chris Archer, crew manager at Blackburn fire station, said: “The pub had been fully evacuated on the arrival of the fire service.

“Crews utilised thermal imaging cameras to locate the fire which originated from a drain that had an outlet into the cellar.

“The cause has been determined as a discarded cigarette which ignited the rubbish that had been disposed of down the drain.”

Crews used ventilation fans to clear the smoke.