A HOUSEHOLDER was forced to flee their home in Oswaldtwistle after a strike of lightning caused a blaze.

Firefighters were called to Burns Avenue close to midnight on Saturday after a fire broke out in a bedroom.

Neighbours managed to alert the residents and helped them to safety.

A spokesman from Hyndburn Fire Station said: "Two crews from Hyndburn and one from Great Harwood fire station attended Burns Avenue in Oswaldtwistle to reports a house was on fire with people trapped inside.

"When we arrived we found a bedroom well alight.

"The occupier had already been alerted to the fire by neighbours and had made there way out of the house.

"The house had been struck by lightning causing a very intense fire in an upstairs bedroom.

"While dealing with the incident neighbours at two other houses on the same street approached the crews stating that their houses had also been effected by the lightning strike causing damage to electrical goods and sockets.

"Luckily no one was hurt at any of the incidents."