NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after a woman was taken to hospital following a large house fire.

The fire broke out in a first floor bedroom of the property on Rock Street, Haslingden, at around 1pm today. 

Two crews from Rawtenstall and one from Accrington battled the fire for around two hours, with the blaze causing severe damage to the bedroom of the house. 

It had been feared that someone could be trapped inside the house but the woman was out of the property by the time crews arrived. 

She was treated by ambulance crews for the suspected effects of smoke inhalation and taken to hospital. Nobody else was in the house or has been injured.

Faz Rahman, of nearby Store Street, said: "I saw fire engines there.There were flames and smoke coming out of the windows.

"I saw the woman who lived in the house. She had a charcoaled face from the fire. She lives by herself and is in her late 30s. 

"I'm shocked by what's happened as this is a quiet community."

Another resident added: "I saw fire engines and flames and smoke from the back of the house. Crews were there for a couple of hours." 

Watch manager Dave Forth said: "Two crews from Rawtenstall and one from Accrington were called to a fire in a first floor bedroom of a house on Rock Street in Haslingden at about 1pm.

"A woman, who was out of the house when crews arrived, was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation. 

"The fire has badly damaged the first floor bedroom.There was lots of smoke and flames.

"Crews were at the scene for around two hours before the fire was put out.

"Crews used four breathing apparatus, two hose reels and a positive pressure ventilation fan to put out the fire," he added.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.