THIEVES ripped windows from the fronts of two terrace houses leaving them on the verge of collapse.

Worried neighbours called the emergency services to Ellis Street, Burnley, after hearing loud noises.

The incident is being investigated as attempted metal theft, as the windows were made of cast iron, but the council said the would-be thieves may also have been trying to take stonework surrounding the windows.

The area was cordoned off yesterday morning with the smashed windows and debris strewn across the street.

The fire service said the incident represented a ‘new level’ in metal thefts in the area.

Coun Julie Cooper, leader of Burnley Council, said: “It is amazing the lengths people will go to steal items like this.

“It is a growing issue and one that has been on my radar for a while. When the Shadow Home Secretary visited in April we went to some Calico properties that had pipes, radiators, and everything ripped out for metal thefts.

“It is growing on a grand scale, and I think it will continue to do so until we have some proper controls over scrap dealers.

“If they couldn’t take cash payments then there wouldn’t be as big a market for this kind of thing.”

Neighbour Sharon Phillips, whose house is the closest occupied home to the affected buildings, said she saw someone running away.

She said: “I heard a loud bang and thought ‘what’s going on?’.

“When I came out I saw a man running away down the alley at the end.

“Apparently they are subsiding, but they say our houses are okay.

“I don’t know what they are going to do. It is annoying this has happened.

“It isn’t very good this sort of thing going on next door.

“We were worried about the safety of the terrace and didn’t know if we were going to be evacuated or not.”

Two fire engines from Burnley and one from Nelson attended the scene after receiving the call at 9.10pm on Monday night.

Burnley fire station watch manager Neil Ashworth said: “The fronts of the houses started to collapse due to thieves taking out the cast iron window sets.

“They had completely removed one and one was left hanging out.

“One witness said she heard several bangs and saw a man in his 30s running away.

“We put up a cordon and requested the buildings inspector to take a look.”

Mr Ashworth said incidents like this were a nuisance for the fire service to deal with.

He said: “This was a major drain on resources with three appliances attending.

“We are used to attending unoccupied homes that have been targeted by thieves but this was a new level for us.

“They have endangered their own lives and the lives of others.

“It is ridiculous they are prepared to risk so much for what seems so little.”

A Burnley Council spokesman said: “An officer from Pennine Lancashire Building Control Service has visited the site.

“The area, which is at the end of a cul-de-sac, has been fenced off and there is no immediate danger to the public.

“We are trying to contact the owners of the properties.”

Police confirmed they were investigating the incident and anyone with information is asked to call 101.