TWO watchmen escaped when a three-storey house in Burnley was severely damaged in a suspected arson attack.

Police were today investigating the men's claims that they were tied up with duct tape inside the building.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at the house in Colne Road, which is under renovation, at 3.30am today and were told people were trapped inside. The ground and first floor were already well alight when they arrived.

Station Officer Neil Ashworth said: "We had reports of people being in the building. One of them rang our control to say they were trapped and we managed to talk them through escaping from the back of the building.

"Just as we were about to send men inside and were fighting the fire, the two people turned up next to us and said they had come from the building.

"They said they had both been restrained with duct tape and they claimed that they had been tied up. We believe the fire was started deliberately in the bedroom and it is being investigated.

"The house was being renovated and these men were acting as night watchmen."

Firefighters were at the scene for around two hours.

The ground and first floor were destroyed by fire.

There was water damage to the basement and smoke damage to the rest of the property.

The police said they were at an early stage in inquiries and were unable to confirm the details.