Neighbours have spoken of their shock after a huge blaze ripped through a recently renovated farmhouse in East Lancashire.

Six fire engines attended the burning property off Chapman Lane, Hoddlesden, at around 6pm last night. 

It is not thought any injuries were sustained by occupants in the fire.

None of the home's owners or inhabitants were on the scene when the Lancashire Telegraph visited the scene on Friday morning.

This morning extensive damage could be seen to the building with a large section of the roof destroyed by the blaze.

One neighbour, who lives close to the house, said: “It’s just shocking, when it was blazing last night it looked absolutely terrible.

"The couple who own the house have spent years doing it all up and I’d say they must have been about 90 per cent done.

"It must be devastating for them.

“I suppose, if there is a bright side, it’s that nobody was injured or killed. It looked that bad.

“I suppose now it’s a case of what’s salvageable for them. It’s hard to tell with fires sometimes as to whether it looks worse than it is but I don’t think that’s the case here.

Lancashire Telegraph:

“The fire brigade did a terrific job but of course there’s water damage too as they sprayed everything to try and get it under control. I just hope the couple are OK.”

Crews remained on site overnight damping down to fully extinguish the flames, and officers from the fire investigatons team were on site today examining the site.

Another nearby neighbour said: “We couldn’t really see much but the smoke and flames were really bad.

“There must have been half a dozen fire engines here last night and they’re still here now trying to work out what’s happened, I guess.

“It’s just terrible for the people who live there but thank God everyone is OK. That's a blessing."

A dog walker, who passed the house this morning, added: "I wasn't sure what had happened until this morning.

"I couldn't really see anything other than blue flashing lights but I could smell and see the smoke from my windows.

"It's amazing, really, that nobody was hurt now I've seen the damage. 

"That's very sad [the ruined recent renovation work]. They must be so upset."

Fire service officials said shortly after arriving that they were tackling a blaze in Chapman Lane in the village of Hoddlesden, just outside Darwen, and asked people to avoid the area.

An aerial ladder platform was also in attendance as well as the fire service drone. 

Chapman Lane is residential, save for a farm house and surrounding fields.

A spokesperson for the fire service said around 8pm on Thursday: "We currently have six fire engines and the aerial ladder platform at an incident on Chapman Lane.

"Please avoid the area.

"The drone is in attendance at this incident.

"Please do not fly drones in the surrounding areas as you will obstruct emergency operations."

It is believed the ambulance service was also in attendance.

Just before 10pm, the fire service issued the following statement: "At 5.58pm on the July 7, six fire engines from Hyndburn, Darwen, Blackburn, Rawtenstall and Fulwood along with the drone unit and the aerial ladder platform from Hyndburn attended a domestic building fire on Chapman Road, Hoddlesden, Darwen.

"Firefighters are wearing breathing apparatus and are using two hose reels, one hose reel jet and a ventilation to unit to bring the fire under control. Crews remain in attendance."

At 11.15pm the incident was reduced to four fire engines with crews remaining on scene throughout the night to monitor any hotspots.

An investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out today. 

The spokesperson added: "This incident has now been reduced to four fire engines with firefighters remaining in attendance throughout the night continuing firefighting operations and monitoring hotspots."

Firefighters this morning confirmed that an investigation was underway, with crews remaining on-site throughout the morning.