Residents have been told to close their windows and doors as fire crews have declared Operation Merlin due to thick black smoke rising into the sky.

Firefighters were called to Burnley Road in Altham near Accrington at around 1.50pm on Wednesday after receiving several reports of fire and smoke, which could be seen as far away as Great Harwood.

Five fire engines from Blackburn, Hyndburn, Burnley and Padiham attended the blaze, which is believed to have started in an allotment and involved a large quantity of hay and tyres.

At 3.32pm, incident commanders made the decision to declare Operation Merlin, informing local councils, civil aviation authorities and railways that smoke could affect services for some time.

A spokesperson for the fire service said: "The fire is approximately 25m by 25m and involves a large quantity of hay and tyres.

"Firefighters are currently working to bring the fire under control.

"There is a significant amount of smoke in the area and we're advising residents nearby to close their windows and doors as a precaution until the smoke has dissipated."