GUESTS and staff were evacuated from one of East Lancashire's best-known hotels last night after a fire broke out in the kitchen.

Three fire engines were sent to the Higher Trapp Hotel, Trapp Lane, Simonstone, at about 8pm.

The fire is thought to have started in ventilation equipment in the kitchen, and quickly spread upwards.

Nobody was injured in the blaze, which also left a number of bedrooms smoke damaged.

Last night some guests were transferred to neighbouring hotels, and one fire officer praised the hotel staff for their quick actions.

Watch manager Bob Marsden of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: "They evacuated everybody and went through the procedure 100 per cent correctly. Everybody was accounted for.

"It could have been much worse. It we had been called a bit later it would have been a different ball game."

Fire crews spent about 45 minutes fighting the worst of the blaze and left the scene at about 11pm.

A spokesman for the Lakeside Collection Group, owners of the hotel, said: "One of our kitchens had a small fire and there is some smoke damage to some bedrooms.

"The fire started in a ventilation duct which we have regularly inspected by a sub-contractor and is regularly cleaned. We are waiting for reports from the fire service.

"We gave everybody refreshments and food when we could get into parts of the building, which was after about half an hour and we have checked people out to neighbouring hotels.

"We don't envisage there will be much disruption to the running of the hotel. We will be using another kitchen while the other is being totally refurbished."