AN EMERGENCY cordon has been placed 100 metres around a caravan which burst into flames while carrying acetylene cylinders.

The cordon has led to a 24-hour closure of Finnington Lane, Feniscowles, Blackburn, at junction three of the M65.

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 10pm yesterday when a caravan containing the cylinders caught fire.

The fire was quickly extinguished but as the cylinders posed a danger, a cordon was erected as a preventative measure.

Police say there is no immediate danger and it was not thought necessary to evacuate three nearby cottages.

However officers did visit householders to make them aware of the situation.

The road will remain closed until this evening as the cylinders need to be sprayed with water periodically for 24 hours after being exposed to fire.

However Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service bosses say they are taking advice from the British Oxygen Company and hope to reopen the road in the early evening.