PEOPLE living near a window makers had a lucky escape following a suspected arson attack on a diesel tank nearby.

Fortunately there was little diesel left within the tank, situated next to Wright Windows, in Harrison Street, Burnley, by the time firefighters arrived at 12.50am this morning.

But fire chiefs say they have launched a joint investigation with police, amid suspicions that the blaze was started deliberately.

Fire crews from Burnley had also been called out to a rubbish fire in nearby Briercliffe Street, at around 10pm last night.

Possible links between the two incidents, and a number of rubbish fires in the same area, will now be investigated.

Gary Hargreaves, a watch manager at Burnley fire station, said: "It was a 4,000 litre tank but fortunately there was not a great deal of diesel left in it, otherwise the consequences could have been far worse.

"It does neighbour residential properties there but the only property which was directly affected was Wright Windows itself.

"The roof and side well were severely affected by fire and the inside of the premises was affected by smoke, as the tank was located adjacent to the building itself.

"We have a number of rubbish fires in this area so we will be looking at this in liaison with the police."