FIRE chiefs have appealed for information about a suspected arson that gutted one house and nearly spread to two adjacent properties.

Station Officer Gary Monk said the blaze started on the ground floor of the terrace house, in Pearl Street, Accrington at 3.30am today.

It spread upwards through the first floor into the roof, where it started to spread to the two immediate homes.

More than 15 firefighters battled the fire before it could spread. They were too late to prevent the first house becoming an empty shell.

Mr Monk said they were only able to stop the blaze because of the quick thinking of two other residents, two doors down on either side who raised the alarm.

He said the house where the fire started was empty and the police were trying to trace the residents.

Neighbours said that a young couple were living in the house but they had not seen them for a day or two and they did not know their names.

John Russell, 63, is one of the neighbours who raised the alarm. He said "I thought it was one of our oil burners playing up, but after I went downstairs I saw it wasn't them.

"The house was full of smoke, though, and it was this that woke me up. I'm asthmatic.

"I don't know anything about saving the day, I'm just glad that the young couple who live there weren't in. They wouldn't have stood a chance."

Anyone with information should call the Arson Hotline on 0800 555 111.