AN investigation into the cause of a large fire at a derelict school is ongoing, a fire service spokesman said.

Dozens of firefighters were called to the former Ivy Bank School in Byron Street, Padiham, at around 1.50pm on Sunday.

Crews battled with the blaze for almost 18 hours, after finally coming away from the site at 7.45am.

Residents were asked to keep their windows and doors shut and to not walk into the smoke plume as the fire burnt furiously throughout the afternoon.

VIDEO: ​Residents told to stay indoors as huge fire breaks out in Padiham

No injuries were reported.

A fire service spokesman said crews from Burnley, Nelson, Accrington, Colne and an aerial ladder platform from Preston were called to the scene.

The service's drone was also used to help map out where the fire was in the building, which has four floors.

A fire service spokesman said: "We are still looking into the cause of the fire.

"Fire crews re-attended at regular intervals to check for hotspots until 7.45am on Monday."

The building has been empty since 2006.