A major fire has taken hold at a 230-year-old church in Blackburn this morning.
Footage on social media shows the building appearing to have been gutted by the flames which broke out shortly before 5.22am.
The building is the oldest church in Blackburn.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of today near a shopping complex in the heart of the Lancashire town.
Peter Howell -Jones, Dean of Blackburn, tweeted that the fire was 'very sad to see'.
Have you got a photo or video of the fire? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk
He added: "Just praying no one was hurt".
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
There are eight fire engines at the scene, reports Lancashire Live.
The church, finished in 1789, closed its doors to active worship on Easter Sunday 1975.
It is not known if anyone was inside when the fire broke out.
Many residents have taken to social media to post shocking video and images of the huge blaze.
One Twitter user said: “Sounds like things are exploding as well.
“Hope everyone including emergency services are/stay safe.”
No casualties have been reported.
