MORE than 150 workers were evacuated as firefighters battled to stop flames engulfing an East Lancashire mill yesterday.

Machinery at Callender Aeroparts in Clayton-le-Moors suffered smoke damage after a fire, which started in a skip, spread to the factory.

The staff were cleared from the mill as firefighters fought the blaze from inside the building.

The blaze started in a skip containing high octane titanium swarf, a metal often used in engineering

The firefighters from Accrington and Great Harwood tried to control the fire from inside the Lower Barnes Street mill as the flames threatened to swamp the building.

They took more than 90 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

Sub-officer Tim Wright said some machinery suffered smoke and water damage.

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