SMOKE from a fire which ripped through a demolished chicken shed could be seen across the Burnley skyline.

Nine firefighters were called to tackle the blaze at Heckenhurst Farm, off Heckenhurst Avenue, near Worsthorne, around 5.20pm on Sunday.

The blaze is being treated as suspicious.

The remaining timber from the shed, measuring around 40 metres by 40 metres, went up in flames, with fire crews saying a section 20 metres by 20 metres was well alight.

The blaze sent plumes of smoke into the air which could be seen for miles around.

Fire crews had to set up a water relay because of the remote location of the blaze which meant one fire engine pulled water from a local source before transporting it to the second engine to tackle the fire.

A digger was also used to dig out the fire.

After getting the fire under control, fire crews left it to burn out before returning to the scene around 8.30pm to finish extinguishing the blaze.

Worsthorne councillor Andrew Newhouse, whose brother-in-law George Sunta runs the farm, said it was in a remote location and there was no danger to the public.

He added: “I don’t know how much damage has been caused.

“I think the fire crews got it under control and dealt with it quite quickly.

“This is what can happen with the combination of wood and dry and hot weather.”

The farmer had reported youths playing in the area before the fire started and an investigation into its cause has started.