A WORKING men’s club has been severely damaged in a fire which is thought to have been started deliberately.

Firefighters were called to Audley Range, Blackburn, around 9.30pm yesterday to put out the flames.

Acting crew manager Kirsty McCreesh said the blaze was ‘well developed’ when the teams arrived.

An aerial ladder platform from Hyndburn Fire Station was also called into action.

Acting crew manager McCreeth said: “There is evidence of people having got into the property, so we are looking at it possibly being a deliberate fire.”

The blaze is thought to have started on the first floor, which was severely damaged. There was also severe damage to the ground floor and basement caused by the water used to put the flames out.

Firefighters were at the scene until around 2am today and crews were due to go back this morning to make sure the building was safe.