A blaze which caused serious damage to a Blackburn vape factory was caused by a faulty light, according to fire chiefs.

Huge plumes of smoke could be seen across the town when Vape Dinner Lady's premises on Shadsworth Business Park caught fire in September.

Around 50 firefighters from across the county and specialist units attended the incident, which took up to three days to fully bring under control.

Eyewitnesses said the fire quickly spread across the warehouse and security from the affected factory were ushering people away, asking them move away from car park areas.

And now the suspected cause of the conflagration has been disclosed at a meeting of the county's fire authority.

Assistant chief fire officer Jon Charters, the Lancashire brigade's service delivery director, said in a report: "Ten fire engines from fire stations across Lancashire were called to a fire at (Vape) Dinner Lady Ltd, on Shadsworth Business Park, Wilkinson Way, Blackburn.

"The fire involved a large warehouse approximately 58 metres by 25 metres, consisting of two floors.

"Firefighters used several firefighting water jets, an aerial ladder platform and a stinger water tower to bring the fire under control.

"Several road closures were in place due to the number of resources at the scene. The hose layer and command unit also supported this incident.

"Fire crews were on scene for three days, damping down and investigating the cause.

"The outcome was recorded as accidental, from a defective light within the warehouse."

AS IT HAPPENED: Huge fire breaks out at vape firm in Blackburn

Bosses at the company later reassured customers that the fire would not affect business operations.

READ MORE: Vape Dinner Lady breaks silence on huge Blackburn fire

A spokesman said at the time: "Following the fire at Dinner Lady’s UK e-liquid manufacturing operation, we would like to re-assure our customers our business operation is open and continuing as usual.

"Most importantly, we can report no-one was hurt in the fire and that all our members are safe and well, thanks to the actions of our headquarters team and the local fire and emergency rescue teams.

"As one the world’s leading e-liquid brands, Dinner Lady has a network of established manufacturing facilities located across multiple international centres which are in constant use and operation to support our UK facility."