A MAN was rescued from the roof of a burning 17th Century Burnley pub's conservatory today.

And police investigating how the fire started - and the alleged assault of two women earlier in the night - have arrested a man.

The blaze at Coal Clough House started at about 5.30am. Fire crews from Burnley were the first to arrive at the scene in Coal Clough Lane and they discovered a man trapped on the roof of the adjacent conservatory.

It is believed two more people, including the licensee, managed to escape the fire which gutted about a third of the listed building, which dates back to 1638.

No-one from the pub complex would comment at the scene today.

Firefighters said the fire started in an upstairs residential flat and spread to the roof.

Crews from six appliances from Burnley, Nelson, Padiham and Accrington took about an hour and a half to bring under control.

Nelson station commander Nick Isherwood said the man rescued was conscious and not seriously injured. He said: "When the first two engines from Burnley arrived, there was a severe fire in the balcony area of the flat and there was a man on the conservatory roof.

"The fire was at first-floor level and had spread very quickly to the whole of the roof.

"About a third of the building has been damaged.

"There is severe fire damage to two rooms of the flat and the roof and there is a little bit of fire damage to the restaurant below. It must be very heartbreaking for those involved.

"We are now trying to search out pockets of fire that could still be smouldering.

"We are also trying to minimise the water damage."

Detective Inspector Steve Chard said a man, who was taken to Burnley General Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, had been arrested in connection with the fire and an alleged assault.

He said: "At 5am we received a telephone call to say that two females had been assaulted at Coal Clough House.

"Following the assault of these two women, a fire then started at the premises and a man was arrested."