AN investigation has been launched after a fire broke out near an industrial unit. 

Crews responded to reports of a fire involving a large quantity of waste adjacent to an industrial unit on Green Road, Colne, shortly before 6pm.

Eight fire engines from across East Lancashire attended, along with a Stinger and several police vehicles.

Police advised residents in the areas of Green Road, Shaw Street and Albert Road to keep all doors and windows locked due to smoke and fumes that had been admitted from the blaze.

No-one has been reported injured following the outbreak of the fire and the area was vacant when fire crews arrived, a fire spokesman said. 

Incident manager Neil Hardiman said the cause of the fire is under investigation and it is unknown whether it was started deliberately.

He said: "The cause of the fire is being investigated at the moment. We started the investigation as soon as we arrived shortly after 6pm.

"We have got some specialist investigators and police on the scene. It's not clear whether it's accidental or deliberate at this stage.

"Initially the fire was very severe involving large pallets of plastic waste stored outside the premises which created a huge smoke bloom.

"However a lot of radiated heat did affect the side of the building - which was approximately 100 metres long.

"Thankfully early action by the fire crews prevented any spread into the interior of the building. The exterior of the building has suffered scorched burns along its full length but the inside of the building has thankfully been soon."

He also said he hoped the roads would be fully open again by midnight. 

Several people from Pendle journeyed down near the site to Shaw Street, Colne, after the fire 'piqued' their curiosity. 

Richard Quigley, 25, who used to be a fire cadet, said he could see the smoke from his house nearly three miles away in Barrowford. 

He said: "I caught sight of it at the start. It was huge. You could see the black smoke from miles around."

An ex-fireman from Barnoldswick, who wished to remain anonymous, said he feared the damage would have been worse if the fire had started from the inside of the industrial unit. 

One fire engine will be stationed at the site overnight and will be there overnight damping down.