A NIGHTCLUB was severely damaged in a suspicious blaze which closed off part of Accrington town centre.

A cloud of smoke swept over the area last night as 50 firefighters tackled the fire at the Opium nightclub, Willow Street.

Fire crews were called at 4.30pm yesterday after passers-by saw smoke coming through the roof of the three-storey building.

An investigation has been launched after police and fire experts said they believed the blaze may have been started deliberately.

Several roads around the building were sealed off for safety reasons, including parts of Willow Street, Cannon Street, Birch Street and St James Street, causing major rush hour traffic problems.

Area commander for Eastern Division of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Mick Frankland said: "The fire had developed very quickly before we got there.

"It proved very difficult because the roof space is quite open, as it has been made into a special feature of the club.

"The fire broke through the roof quite quickly and there is a considerable amount of damage.

"The building is part two-storey and part three-storey so it was easier to get officers working from above it on the aerial platform ladders.

"We don't believe anyone was in the building at the time of the fire.

"It was locked up and we had to break in, which causes us concern and makes us more suspicious as to how it started."

Police inspector Nick Williams-Jones said: "The fire is being treated as suspicious at the moment as a precautionary measure. The building was secured overnight and if it is confirmed as suspicious, scenes of crime officers will begin an investigation."

A new night featuring some big name DJs was announced last month at Opium.

It was a bid to attract clubbers to the town and away from Blackburn and Burnley.

The club is owned by Burnley entrepreneur Mick Cookson, who today said he felt "sick" about the fire.