FIRE crews from around Lancashire and Greater Manchester were tackling a fire which engulfed more than 20 miles of moorland.

They were faced with stopping a raging wall of fire advancing at 30ft per minute on tinder-dry moors near Rivington.

Ash from the inferno blew into Blackburn as firefighters struggled to keep control of 10ft high flames with beaters. The fire followed a spell of unseasonably dry weather.

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