RUSH-hour traffic had to be diverted away from one of Accrington's busiest roads after a fire tore through a row of derelict houses.

Blackburn Road in the town centre was closed at about 6pm after the fire broke out in five houses in the street.

The properties are due to demolished in the coming week as part of the regeneration of Accrington.

A leading firefighter said he suspected children had started the blaze, which ripped through the roofs, causing them to collapse.

Firefighters were not sent inside the building as it was feared floors would collapse.

Instead, an aerial ladder platform was used to douse the flames from above. The flames were put out within half an hour of crews arriving at about 6pm but the road remained blocked until 7.40pm, causing traffic congestion.

Several people raised the alarm and Blackburn Road was blocked for several hundred yards between the junctions with Tanpits Road and Hyndburn Street.

Watch manager Peter Frazer of Hyndburn Fire Station said: "Probably children have got in the back and started a fire.

"It was too dangerous to go inside. For a derelict property that is due for demolition it is not worth risking the lives of firefighters for."

He went on: "The fire was going very well. There were flames coming out the back door and windows.

"There was a lot of smoke coming out of the roof and it went as we were putting it out from the aerial ladder.

"A lot of thick brown smoke came across the road initially which was a hazard to traffic and pedestrians."

Police were investigating the incident although it was too early to determine a cause, Sgt Martin Knight of Blackburn Police said yesterday evening.

The row of properties, including former businesses, are to be demolished under phase one of Project Phoenix.

The scheme, run by Hyndburn Council and Elevate East Lancashire, is to replace buildings in the borough.