A VAN fire blocked one carriageway of the A56 at Rising Bridge for almost an hour at lunchtime today.

Appliances from Rawtenstall and Haslingden attended fire stations attended the incident at 11.58am.

A Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "The white van was well alight and blocking one carriageway.

"Crews used two breathing apparatus and two hose reel to extinguish the fire and were engaged for fifty minutes."

He added: "Police were in attendance to divert traffic.."