A BLAZE severely damaged a house in Keighley Avenue, Colne.

Firefighters were called to the Pendle Council property at 8pm yesterday to find the house well alight.

Fortunately the couple living there were out at the time and no-one was injured.

Station officer David Gilligan, of Colne fire station, said: "We're putting it down to probably being started by a discarded cigarette.

"The people living there had left about an hour before we were called out."

The blaze caused severe heat and smoke damage throughout the house, which has now been boarded up by council workmen.

Firefighters were at the scene for an hour and a half.

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