FIRE chiefs were today investigating how a blaze started inside a former popular bingo hall.

Four fire crews spent the early hours of Christmas Day battling to save the building in Blackburn Road, Accrington.

Pumps from Accrington, Oswaldtwistle and Blackburn were all called to the fire at 5.51am and spent four hours fighting to bring it under control.

The bingo hall is being renovated and has been disused for several years.

A spokesman for Accrington Fire Station said: "The fire started inside what was once the main bingo hall, which is down some stairs from the entrance to the building.

"It is quite unique in that respect.

"It took four pumps to bring the blaze under control and they spent around four hours there, with the morning relief taking over at around 9am.

"It is not known how the fire started."

He added: "With it being Christmas Day, it has been hard to get hold of the people renovating the building and we will be looking at starting that today."

Workmen spent part of yesterday surveying the damage, which was restricted to the lower floors of the building.

It is not known what the building's future use will be.