Fire hits Preston industrial estate

An industrial estate in Preston has been damaged after a fire broke out in the premises in the early hours of this morning.

Fire crews were called to the three-storey building in Laurel Street in the Avenham area of the city at about 1:30am.

Upon their arrival, firefighters found that the whole building was alight and began tackling the blaze with five jets and one aerial ladder platform monitor. Fire officers are still at the scene.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire Service told the BBC that the fire is believed to have started on the top floor of the building.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment must be conducted on all commercial properties in England and Wales.

If the fire risk assessment is deemed to be carried out to an insufficient extent, the Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or a prison sentence of up to two years.