Residents had to be evacuated after around 20 bins caught fire in a residential court.

The incident occurred just off Thursby Road, Burnley, at around 8.10pm on Saturday.

Emergency services attended the scene in Thornber Court, after reports that a number of bins were on fire in the bin compound.

On arrival, fire crews found the bins to be 'well alight' and there was a lot of smoke in the area.

A fire service spokesperson said: "We think that one bin has been set on fire and this has spread rapidly from bin to bin.

"There were about seven wheelie bins and a few recycling bins.

"As a result of the large volume of smoke, some residents had already evacuated onto the grassy areas, and others were told to stay in their homes and close all their windows and doors.

"A couple of cars also had to be moved so we could access the compound and prevent further risk of fire spread.

"The compound serves the whole of the residential court, where a lot of elderly people live, and due to the wooden structure, it could now be unsafe and may have to be pulled down."

Firefighters used two hose reels and one breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire and were in attendance for approximately an hour and a half.

No injuries were reported and a police spokesperson said the cause of the fire is now under investigation.