FIREFIGHTERS searched a burning former residential home today while masonry fell about them after reports that a family could have been in the house.

Fire crews were called to the large end terrace building on the corner of Manchester Road and Piccadilly Road, Burnley, at 12.43am and found the building well alight.

Station Officer Dave Jackson said: "We were told that the tenant was in the house and so we sent eight firefighters wearing breathing equipment to search the property.

"It is a large corner building and when we arrived we faced a very severe fire on the ground and first floor which was spreading up the staircase to the second floor.

"As the firefighters searched there was falling masonry but it wasn't until we could confirm there was no one in could we take further precautions for our own safety.

"The house was occupied but it turned out the tenant was away."

Firefighters attended for four hours.