A man died and his wife and two children were badly hurt in a house fire this morning, police said.

The blaze broke out in their terraced house in London Road, Blackburn, at 1.20am.

Firefighters rescued the family who were taken to hospital.

The 41-year-old father later died while the mother, aged 39, and her children, aged 14 and nine, were seriously injured and remain in hospital.

A Lancashire police spokesman said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

She said: "Police are working closely with Lancashire Fire and rescue service to determine the cause of this fire which at this stage is currently unknown.

"A team of officers are currently supporting the family involved and the wider community."