THREE men have now been arrested in connection with a burglary at a power substation.

The substation, North Road, Blackburn, experienced two electric flash explosions in the early hours of Wednesday morning after equipment inside was tampered with, police said.

Two police officers and a United Utilities engineer were taken to hospital when they were left with burns as a result of the second explosion at 4.20am.

51-year-old engineer Keith Shephard, from Blackburn, has since been released from Royal Blackburn Hospital and is recovering at home.

PC Garry Flanagan, a 46-year-old who has served four years in the force following a 24-year career in the Royal Navy, remains at Wythenshaw Hospital. He is married and has a daughter aged 13 and a son aged 10.

PC Oliver Timperley, a 29-year-old officer with four years policing experience, is also still undergoing treatment.

Both received burns to the face and arms.

Three local men, two aged 22 and a third aged 25, are being questioned by police in connection with the incident.

The explosions at the power station left 1,500 homes in the Blackburn area without electricity for over three hours.