A DISABLED resident was evacuated to safety as fire swept through the lofts of houses around him.

Antony Biggs, 45, the only resident in a row of boarded-up homes in Myers Street, Burnley, had to quit his home as firefighters tackled the blaze which gutted the roofspace of six properties, with flames licking the rooftops.

Firemen used a turntable ladder to fight the fire, believed to have been started by youngsters playing in the houses which are awaiting demolition in Daneshouse.

Owner occupier Mr Biggs spent the night in a local hotel and was today contacting Burnley Council in the hope of being rehoused.

"I know kids were playing in the back of the street earlier, but that is the last I heard until the fire engines arrived.

"The roofs were well alight and I had to get out."

Fire crews from Burnley and Nelson were called to the blaze which broke out shortly after 5pm yesterday .

The row of properties are among 170 earmarked for demolition in the multi million pounds Daneshouse housing action area programme.

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