Man rescued after flat blast is arrested over drugs

Police said the blast caused significant damage to the ground floor of the property

A man was rescued from the scene of an explosion and then arrested on suspicion of making drugs.

The blast destroyed a downstairs flat in a block in Burnley, Lancashire, at about 13:45 BST.

Fire crews and search and rescue teams managed to pull out a man who had suffered burns in the explosion.

Police said they were looking for another person who was also thought to have been burned but who had fled the scene.

Windows were blown out of the building by the force of the explosion

A police cordon sealed off the converted former Liberal club and search and rescue teams from Chorley and Bamber Bridge were called in to help.

Several houses were evacuated "as a precaution", but police said there was "no ongoing risk to the public".

A spokesperson said that a man had been arrested on suspicion of producing a controlled drug and criminal damage to the property.

"A joint investigation has been launched with our colleagues from the fire service to establish the cause of the explosion," they added.