Fire crews and urban rescue team respond to 20ft wall collapse at Leyland and Farington Social Club

The redbrick wall of Leyland and Farington Club in Derby Street came crashing down in the early hours of Thursday morning (June 13).

Police were called to the scene at 6.44am after the collapse was reported by the club's cleaner who had arrived for his morning shift.

It is understood the venue was unoccupied when the collapse happened.

A police cordon was in place in Derby Street until around 5pm.

Terraced households in Derby Street, who have no access to off-road parking, have been told to move any vehicles and keep the road clear until further notice.

Three fire crews from Leyland and Bamber Bridge, along with an urban search and rescue team, responded to the incident.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service said: "We were called to an incident involving the partial collapse of a building at 7.26am and the incident is ongoing.

"We have three fire engines and the urban search and rescue team in attendance and are working with the police and local authority."

Electricity North West are on site and part of Derby Street is being dug up as engineers seek to isolate the building's power supply.

One engineer said inspectors with the local authority are unable to safely enter the building until the supply is switched off.

Officers from South Ribble Borough Council remain at the site, but said they are unable to provide further comment.

This morning, a spokesman for the Council said: "Our Building Control officers are at the site and are currently assessing the situation and seeing what needs to be done to make the area secure.”