A LANDLORD who became trapped in his blazing pub has spoken of the moment his business went up in flames.

Mick Waterman, 36, returned to the Globe Inn, Blackburn Road, Accrington, early yesterdayafter a night off.

As he cashed up the till at 3am he heard a sudden loud noise and went into the pool room next to the bar area to investigate.

He said: "I realised the loud bang I had heard was the windows exploding. My first real thought for my friend, who was asleep downstairs, so I woke him and got him out then came back into the pub to telephone the emergency services.

"By the time I had walked back in the whole downstairs was filled with black smoke and I could not see the front door. I went upstairs because I knew I would be able to get out of one of the windows."

When the firefighters arrived they found Mr Waterman, who has been the licensee of the pub since March, balancing on a first-floor window ledge.

They helped him down a ladder and he was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where he was treated for shock and smoke inhalation. His friend, John Priestley, 58, did not require hospital treatment.

Firefighters said the cause had been an electrical fault in the air fan in the pool room. It appeared to have overheated and then set the curtains alight.