AN investigation is under way into Burnley's third major fire in eight days.

Nearby residents were evacuated from their homes as flames ripped through Burnley Plumbing Supplies, housed in the former Hanover Methodist Church in Old Hall Street (pictured).

Firefighters had to leave the building when gas cylinders began to explode.

Sub officer Nigel Clark said: "That made it very hazardous. It was horrendous."

The listed building, built in 1898, was destroyed but the fire was prevented from spreading to the adjoining loading bay and warehouse and to the nearby row of terraced houses.

The family-run company employs about two dozen people. The owners, who live nearby, were too distressed to talk about the incident.

The cause is not yet known but is not thought to be suspicious.

The church is only 100 yards from Daneshouse Working Men's Club, which was destroyed in a fire in the early hours of Monday, April 17 and at the weekend extensive damage was caused in an arson attack on Stoneyholme Primary School, less than a mile away. Last night's blaze was spotted shortly after 7pm.

Stuart and Elaine McCall live across the road in Travis Street. Stuart said: "The first I knew was when I heard the fire appliances. I looked out and at first there was just a wisp of smoke."

Elaine added: "Then, all of a sudden there were sounds of things exploding inside the building. It was an inferno."

Stuart added: "A short time later we could see flames shooting out 20 feet above the building and then the roof collapsed."

He said the building had been taken over several years ago when it was in a dilapidated condition.

"The business was built up and the building improved over the years," he said. "It is run as a family business and they will be devastated."

Sub-officer Clark said the business operated seven days a week and was locked up only about about half an hour before the fire was seen.

He said: "The owner went out of his house because his car alarm was going off.

"It was then that he saw the smoke."

"It was a ferocious fire which spread quickly, probably due to the contents including plastic bathroom suites and the gas cylinders."