FOUR cars were destroyed after a welder sparked a blaze in a garage.

Two crews from Accrington and one from Oswaldtwistle were called to the commercial garage in Dale Street, Oswaldtwistle, at around 4.16pm yesterday.

Accrington station officer Andy Taylor said one man was working on a vehicle when the fire started.

By the time crews arrived the building and contents, which included gas cylinders, were well alight.

Mr Taylor said: "Because the whole structure is metal, the garage was like an oven. There were cylinders used for welding inside, which made it more dangerous for us, but the blaze was quickly dealt with."

Mr Taylor said firefighters were forced to cordon off the scene to stop residents gathering to see what was going on.