A FIRE that ripped through a terraced house in Accrington is being treated as arson.

A joint probe by fire investigators and police was launched following the blaze in Lower Antley Street at around 8.30am this morning.

A 34-year-old man from Accrington has been arrested in connection with the incident and was in police custody this afternoon.

A fire service spokesman said nobody was home at the time of the fire, which was started in several locations inside the property.

Firefighters from Accrington Fire Station went inside the house wearing breathing masks to put out the blaze.

The ground floor was severely damaged by fire, while the upstairs suffered smoke damage, he added.

Insp Simon Lynch said: "We are treating the fire as supicious.

"If there there are any witnesses I would urge them to contact us."

Anybody with information should call police on 101 quoting reference 375.