THREE people were rescued by firefighters after becoming surrounded by a mile long wall of flames in a moorland blaze near Lords Hall, Darwen, last night.

Fire crews were also called out to a blaze on grass land at Pickup Bank and then to a third fire, half an hour later, at Edgworth.

It is not yet known what started the blazes, although the recent hot spell is thought to have played a part.

Fire crews from seven stations across Lancashire battled to bring six foot flames and miles of burning grassland under control.

And the blaze near Lords Hall was left burning as the priority shifted to escorting three people from the hall.

Crews from Blackburn and Greater Manchester returned to the scene this morning.

Station Officer Keith Cunliffe from Blackburn said his team walked for a mile over the moorland peak from the top of Bury Fold Lane to reach the fire.

He said: "Our main concern was to rescue the three people who had gone to try and control the blaze -- which they were never going to do.

"We could not tackle the fire last night as it was too dark and as no property or people were in direct danger, we could not put fire fighters at risk."