Fire crews tackle major South Shore blaze.

A large blaze has destroyed a laundry business in Blackpool.

The fire broke out just after 7pm last night (Wednesday) at Elite Linen on Ball Street, just off Lytham Road.

Nine appliances from Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service are in attendance, including an aerial ladder platform and some nearby homes have been evacuated.

There are no reports of any injuries.

A statement from the fire service says:

'Following the first fire call an unprecedented fifty more followed from people responding to the sight of smoke from the premises. Eight fire engines and an Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) and crews have been assigned to a fire in an industrial laundry. No casualties are reported. Fire engines and crews in attendance: Blackpool (two pumps plus ALP), Bispham, St Annes, South Shore, Wesham, Lancaster, Blackburn (Command Unit and support pump)'.



At 8.45pm the required firefighting response was reduced and fire engines and crews from Bispham, Wesham, Lancaster and Blackburn returned to their stations.

At 9.43pm the fire was finally extinguished, two fire engines and crews remaining for damping-down. The fire has left the building in a condition where it may collapse and until it can be stabilised an investigation into the cause of the fire is on hold. The fire has affected electricity supplies locally and Blackpool Council representatives are at the scene liaising with residents of thirty domestic properties on Ball Street and Lytham Road to provide temporary housing.'