FIRE crews released three teenagers from a garage after they had been locked in for three hours on one of the coldest nights of the year.

Temperatures had plunged to minus 5C when the two boys and a girl got into the garage in St Andrew's Close, Oswaldtwistle, at about 1am on Saturday. The door locked behind them, trapping them inside.

A fire brigade spokesman said they sat in a car inside the garage-- which belonged to one of their parents -- to try to keep warm throughout their ordeal.

One of them had a mobile phone which had run out of money, but 4am they decided to dial 999, he added.

The spokesman said that when firemen arrived at the row of garages they were able to release to door catch which had sprung shut.

"Considering how cold it was the three of them were in good spirits," he added.

The youngsters were taken home by police car.