SEVERAL people have been treated for smoke inhalation after a kitchen fire in Darwen last night.

The blaze in the town's South Street broke out at around 11.50pm.

It had been feared that people were still trapped inside the building, but fire crews confirmed everyone had been accounted for.

The fire involved a a toaster in the kitchen of the property which was also heavily smoke logged.

Two crews from Darwen and Blackburn wearing breathing apparatus used a ventilation unit to put out the fire and clear the property of smoke.

A fire service spokesman said: "Two firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used a ventilation unit to extinguish the fire and clear the property of smoke.

"Ambulance crews were requested at the scene to treat several casualties for suspected smoke inhalation. "Firefighters were at the scene approximately one hour and fifteen minutes."