A fire that broke out on a construction site is thought to have been caused by someone putting a cigarette butt out in a bucket of tar.

On Sunday afternoon fire crews were called to the Tatton Gardens development site on Eaves Lane in Chorley.

When firefighters arrived they found a building under construction was well alight.

A spokesperson for the brigade said: "At 2.50pm on September 26 three fire engines from Leyland, Chorley and Horwich were called to a fire involving a building under construction on Eaves Lane, Chorley.

"Firefighters used two breathing apparatus and one hose reel to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported."

Following initial investigations, it is thought the blaze started after a trespasser entered the site and put a cigarette out in a bucket of tar. 

Luckily no-one was injured but the fire caused some superficial damage to the building and sent huge plumes of smoke into the air.

A spokesperson for Chorley Council said: "Some of you may have seen or heard about a fire at the site of our Tatton Gardens development (on Eaves Lane) on Sunday afternoon.

"The emergency services tackled and extinguished the fire very quickly with minimal damage caused.

"The cause of the fire is being investigated but at this stage is believed to have started as a result of a trespasser on site putting a cigarette butt in a bucket of tar, which caused the huge plumes of smoke.

"Thankfully on this occasion no one was injured in the incident, but the outcome could have been so much worse.

"This serves as a reminder of the dangers of construction sites to people who think it is OK to trespass."