POST office engineers repairing underground cables escaped uninjured when a fire broke out in their tent.

The tent, erected over a green telephone cabinet at the junction of Abbey Street and Birtwistle Street, Accrington, suddenly burst into flames.

But the flames did not spread to a petrol station only yards away, and quick thinking by a petrol tanker averted what could have been a major disaster.

More than 400 telephones lines in Accrington were effected, including emergency lines to Accrington fire station and Accrington ambulance station, who had to switch to radio telephone communication only.

An eyewitness at Abbey Garage said: "The flames just seemed to flare up and I telephoned for the fire brigade. They were here in two minutes and quickly put out the fire.

"However a petrol tanker was on its way to the garage and we were very concerned about that."

Roy Greaves, the Post Office telecommunication press officer, said: "An investigation is being carried out as to why the fire started. The underground engineers were in the tent when the fire started, but no one was injured."