RESIDENTS claim lives are at risk after parked cars delayed a fire engine reaching a blazing row of terrace houses.

And they demanded a re-think of parking on New Bank Road, Blackburn, to ensure that in future the emergency services can get to the scene immediately.

They say the steep stretch from the junction with Granville Road is packed with cars when the working day finishes, limiting an already narrow road.

The impact of this situation was realised when a fierce blaze took hold around midnight on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Fire crews were unable to get an aerial ladder platform engine -- needed to tackle a blaze thought to have started in a roof -- down the road.

Police officers had to wake residents and get them to move cars, which were also blocking hydrants. During the delay the fire raged across four terraced houses.

Four families were left homeless and have been warned it could be six months before workmen reconstruct their gutted houses.

Now residents want alternative parking spaces provided or for one side of the road to be put under double yellow line restrictions.

Reg Smith's house was gutted. The only property he was left with were a pair of pyjamas and a raincoat. He said: "Cars are parked on New Bank Road from top to bottom, and the brigade couldn't get down with the engine with the aerial ladder.

"They got it into position eventually but because of the cars there was a delay. This could have been much worse.

"The hydrants should be clearly marked. Also they could consider allowing parking on one side of the road only but that would cause dissension from car owners.

"I think it is up to the local authority, the police and fire service to sort it out because this problem applies to other terraced streets in the area."

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "There is no chance of getting garages because the ones that are there are all full.

"Some have three cars. It's full all the way up the street, and often they have to be parked on other streets.

"The fire would not have got such a significant hold had the appliances been able to reach the houses straight away. They had to use a hydrant on Revidge Road.

"They could put yellow lines on one side of the road, but where would the other cars go?"

Station officer Kevin Gibson, of Blackburn Fire Service's Greenwatch, said: "We got one appliance to the scene straight away but because the fire was in the roof, we needed to use an aerial ladder platform. We had to move some vehicles to get it in position so there was a delay.

"It is an offence to park on fire hydrants, and it could be that it is your property involved in a fire so people should be aware of where they are."

Aidan Fortune, the acting station commander at Blackburn fire, said: "It was the case that we couldn't get our engines down on the evening and then when we went down they day after to damp down.

"We ask that residents give consideration to fire vehicles when they are parking and also to avoid parking on the hydrants.

"Otherwise it delays us getting to the water supply and tackling the fire.

"This is a problem all over at the moment, although New Bank is a narrow road."

Graham Burgess, executive director for regeneration and technical services for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "In a situation like this we would need to speak to the Ambulance Service and consult the police as well as the Fire and Rescue Service to discover whether they encounter similar problems. Any action would depend on the result of these discussions."