TWENTY residents were evacuated from their homes to a nearby church after a serious house fire today.

One elderly woman had to be saved by police after the blaze in Todmorden Road, Burnley, at 3.15am.

The woman was discovered unconscious on the floor of her kitchen and fire crews, who entered through a back door, moved her moments before a sudden escalation of the fire.

The woman and another person from the address were taken to Burnley General Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation. Their condition is not thought to be serious. Residents who could not go to friends' or relatives' houses were evacuated to nearby St Stephen's Church, in Oxford Road.

Two fire engines from Padiham were on the scene first and were followed by two from Burnley, one of which had been dealing with a deliberate car fire when the call came in. They used three jets, three hose reels and the aerial ladder platform to get the blaze under control before using breathing apparatus to make sure the buildings were clear of people.

Fire crews were still at the scene at daylight and the road was blocked to motorists, with traffic being diverted. The cause of the fire is not known but the house has been destroyed and the roofs of two neighbouring properties were damaged as the fire spread.