FLY-TIPPED furniture and rubbish was torched at a notorious former pub in Church.

Firefighters said the blaze, at the Commercial Hotel, in Blackburn Road, took place in a back yard of the building.

The site forms part of the Church and Oswaldtwistle gateway, where several old buildings, including the adjacent Hargreaves Warehouse, have fallen into serious disrepair.

The blaze started at around 11.50pm on Sunday.

Residents called firefighters after spotting smoke billowing from behind the pub.

Police are now investigating.