MYSTERY today surrounded "a bright flash and loud explosion" which woke up scores of people last night.
Blackburn police were inundated with calls from concerned residents after what sounded like a blast just before midnight.
But efforts by firefighters, police and the Lancashire Constabulary helicopter failed to trace the origin of the noise.
A fire brigade spokesman said one heat source discovered by the helicopter's thermal imaging cameras turned out to be a small rubbish fire in Walnut Street, Blackburn.
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