RESIDENTS in Burnley are being urged by Lancashire Fire and Rescue to think twice about keeping hold of gas cylinders which could be 'potential bombs'.

Fire chiefs also urged people to clear rubbish from their gardens and back yards after the number of incidents involving rubbish had almost doubled in recent weeks.

The warning came after firefighters in the town were called to fires in two back yards in Abel Street at 8.38pm yesterday.

The fire, which started in piles of rubbish, spread to a derelict house and caused slight damage to the back of an occupied house next door.

Station officer Steve Cope, based in Burnley, said: "The contents of the yard at number 99 Abel Street were destroyed and there was damage to the door frame and ceiling inside the door. The next door yard was 50 per cent destroyed by fire.

"The biggest problem we had was that there were two liquid petroleum gas cylinders in one of the yards so we had to keep the residents out of the way until they had been removed. It took 20 minutes to ascertain whether they were safe and could be taken out and we were there the best part of an hour.

"We want to get the message out to people not to leave these cylinders in yards. They need to get rid of them properly and not just leaving them lying about when they've finished with them. The council has a place they can take them to.

"They are literally potential bombs if they go off."