RESIDENTS in Padiham were told to keep their doors and windows shut today after a fire sent asbestos into the air.

Firefighters from across East Lancashire were called to Fleetwood Road overnight to deal with a blaze in the Thornton Traditional Felts factory.

Operation Merlin was started shortly after the fire began at 11.50pm yesterday after asbestos was found to be coming from the roof of the factory, which makes underlay.

Residents of nearby Wyre Street, Cobden Street, Ingham Street and Lawrence Street were warned of a risk of asbestos spreading with the smoke from the blaze and asked to keep their doors and widows shut and stay inside as much as possible.

Fire crews were expected to remain at the site for the rest of the day to keep the asbestos fires damp and prevent them from spreading.

Padiham Town Councillor Granville Lord, whose Guy Street home is less than 500metres from the site of the fire, said: "This is terrible news and I was shocked to hear about it.

"I hope the asbestos can be contained."

The fire involved gas cylinders in the single-storey building, and firefighters from Burnley, Padiham and Accrington used an aerial ladder platform and breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze inside with backing from an Environmental Protection Unit.

The building was 50 per cent damaged by the flames and a large quantity of felt underlay and a forklift truck were also destroyed.

Factory manager Kevin Elcock said: "I don't know a lot about what went on.

"We had a break-in last week and it seems obvious somebody has done this on purpose.

"There were a lot of wool fibre bales in there so it will have burnt very easily. I couldn't even begin to guess at the value of what's been damaged.

"I hope we can be back up and running within a few days."

Station Officer Aidan Fortune, from Blackburn fire station, said: "Crews will be here all day damping down and the rain will help to make sure the asbestos is contained.

"The warning to residents to keep their doors and windows sealed is likely to be lifted later in the day.

"We have no idea at the moment how the fire started but there will be a full investigation."

A police spokesman said the incident was being investigated.