A BURNING door caused serious damage to a house in Two Gates Walk, Darwen.

A neighbour attempted to put out the blaze with a bucket of water before calling the fire brigade.

Two fire engines and 10 officers arrived to find an empty house, although a spokesman said they had witnessed cats in the building which had not been injured.

He said: "The police are investigating the cause of this fire which is regarded as suspicious.

"The hallway and doorway were damaged by the flames, with the rest of the house damaged by smoke."