FIRE crews were continuing to tackle small fires at an industrial unit after a massive blaze left a community shrouded in thick smoke for almost 24 hours.

Pockets of fire remained at the site in Leamington Road, Blackburn, after firefighters spent the night there.

At the height of the blaze, 60 firefighters from across the county were drafted in to tackle the inferno at the former bakery.

Eye witnesses said the smoke could be seen from 10 miles away.

Some residents were forced to stay with relatives overnight.

The fire is believed to have started in a basement garage operated on the site, and soon spread into an upholsterers, a jeans factory and what was described by on-lookers as a fabric training college, all based on the upper floors.

A thick column of smoke was soon visible from across the town, bringing crowds to police cordons to see what was going on.

Around 20 homes were evacuated and residents sought refuge in a nearby pub as the heavens opened, bringing down a shower of ash with the rain.

Eyewitness Kenneth Leech, who lives opposite the factory complex, said: "We heard this big bang and I went out to the front of the house and all I could see was black smoke coming from the garage.

"They were trying to push a car out but failed. There there were quite a few bangs and pops and before too long the whole thing was alight.

"At first we were asked to keep to the back of our houses and then asked to leave altogether. The smoke was really thick and black, you could hardly breathe."

Senior Divisional Officer Paul Haydock said: "We were first called out at 11.30am and I would expect us to be here well into Tuesday damping down.

"It was a very tricky one for us. There was the issue of gas cylinders in the garage which we had to be aware of as well as the other flammable materials in the other factories.

"No-one was trapped, but one of the mechanics went to hospital with burns but was later released and came back to see what was going on."

The owners of the unit refused to comment.

Conservative councillor for Corporation Park, Coun Paul McGurty, said today: "I think the council needs to look at whether it is suitable to have such a mix of industrial uses in a mainly residential area.

"I would argue not, especially with gas cylinders in a garage below a textile factory. That can't be right."