TWO teenagers were taken to hospital with head injuries following the collapse of a former pub on Monday night.

Emergency services were scrambled to the scene in Blackburn after children had been seen playing inside and on scaffolding surrounding the Duke of Edinburgh pub in Crabtree Street at around 6pm.

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The air ambulance was also on standby after most of the roof of the pub collapsed. An investigation was launched and the council has been working with the owner to try to make the site safe.

Firefighters from Blackburn, Great Harwood, Darwen, Bamber Bridge and Chorley were sent to the scene while road closures remained in place for most of Tuesday while the site was secured.

Two specialist search dogs from Lancashire and Greater Manchester Fire were also used to search the building after reports five or six teenage boys were on the site when the building collapsed.

A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service said they were called just after 6pm. She said: “We sent three ambulances and a rapid response vehicle. We did call for the air ambulance, but they were not needed in the end.

“We took three patients to hospital. Two were taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital and one was taken to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

“Two of them had head injuries.”

Brian Bailey, director of Growth and Prosperity at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We have been working with the owner to make the site safe and secure which meant closing off the surrounding roads for a short time to ensure that there was no risk to the public.”

Cllr Salim Mulla said he thought the building had been empty for eight to 10 years.

“The building needs maintenance. If you don’t maintain it it will just collapse,” he said. Public safety is very important and I think the council will make sure the necessary measures are taken.” Describing it as an “eyesore”, he added: “The owner needs to make a decision on what to do with it.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said two dogs called Isla and Ace were sent into the building to check whether anyone was still inside.