A TAKEAWAY was gutted after a “severe” fire broke out in the middle of the night.

Firefighters were called to Tasty Village in Bolton Road, Darwen, at 12.40am yesterday after the blaze broke out in a back room.

The takeaway was severely damaged by the fire and yesterday fire investigators were on the scene trying to determine how it started.

A spokesman for Darwen fire service said: “We were called in the early hours to a takeaway in Bolton Road where there was a fire in a rear ground floor room of the premises.

“The fire was severe and four fire engines and crews, two from Darwen, one from Blackburn and one from Hyndburn, were assigned to deal with it.

“Six firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus got up close to the fire and used two hosereel jets to extinguish it.

“There were no casualties and the cause of the fire is yet to be established.”

No other buildings were affected by the flames and fire crews did not have to evacuate any nearby residents.

Speaking at the scene yesterday, the takeaway’s owner said he was struggling to understand what could of had happened.

He said: “I am just finding it hard to take it all in.

“I just want to know how it started.”

Firefighters said it is not yet known how long the business will have to close for while the repair work is carried out.

One resident whose home overlooks the takeaway said: “I was just about to go to bed when I heard a lot of noise.

“I could see a lot of flashing lights through the window.

“I couldn’t see the flames from my house but from the amount of activity it seemed serious.

“I am just glad nobody was hurt as you never know with fires like that.”

Sunnyhurst councillor Dave Smith said he hoped the business recovers soon.

He said: “I am just glad everyone is okay.

“I hope they can get the business reopened soon and the closure doesn’t have a big effect on jobs.”