TWO friends set fire to a house as part of an insurance scam, a court heard.

Fire crews had 'never seen a house fire like it', after the property in Cumberland Avenue, Clayton-le-Moors, was set ablaze, a jury at Burnley Crown Court was told.

Samuel Todd, 27, of Spencer Street, Accrington, has already pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to commit arson but denies being wreckless as to whether life was endangered.

He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

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Ryan Ibbitson, 22, of Selby Street, Baxenden, denies a charge of conspiring to commit arson being wreckless as to whether life was endangered and conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

Prosecuting Judith McCullough said it was an insurance scam with the fire set for the purpose of making a claim.

She said: "In the early hours of April 15, 2014, fire crews were called to a house fire at 4 Cumberland Avenue in Clayton-le-Moors.

"The crew manager had never seen a fire like the one they faced that night.

"The windows had been blown out and the house was engulfed in flames.

"The Crown say these defendants were responsible.

"It was a fire set in the middle of the night in a terraced property while other residents slept.

"They set that fire with hardly a care for the possible consequences of their actions."

The court heard Natasha Housby lived at the house with Todd, who she was in a relationship with, while Ibbitson was in a relationship with Natasha's sister Kira Housby and they lived in Clitheroe.

Miss McCullough said two days before Todd had contacted police saying there had been a break in at the Cumberland Avenue address.

"Police found the gate had been forced and the window had been prised open with a crow bar. They had scratched the screen of the television with words 'thieving scum, I'm going to burn you out' and knives had been stuck into the sofa.

"They told police they had no idea who had it in for them but you will hear these two males knew a little more about it than they are letting on."

The court also heard the day before the fire Natasha took out an insurance policy to cover the contents of the house and Todd and Ibbitson were seen throwing 30 or 40 bin liners into three cars.

On the night of the fire a neighbour saw at around 2am the lights were on in the house and someone climbed out of the window while another male was seen standing at the side of the house.

"The first male hurled something through the window and it sparked and the house erupted into flames.

"The neighbour described the fire as ferocious."

CCTV also showed two men running away from the property - one carrying a petrol can and one recognised as Todd by a neighbour.

A fire investigation found an accelerant had been used and the gas cooker knobs were turned on.

Miss McCullough said forensic evidence including a boot found by firefighters, some clothing and cars used by the pair also linked them both to the fire.

Phone evidence, including from the night and text messages before showed Ibbitson was 'well aware of the plan'.

The pair were arrested shortly after the fire and Ibbitson smelt of accelerant, she added.

Defending Ibbitson, Jeremy Lasker, said he denied the second man seen on the night of the fire was him and there was a question over who had his phone on the night of the fire.

The trial continues.