FIRE crews were called to extinguish a fire at a church in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday).

Firefighters spent an hour and 20 minutes tackling the blaze at St Paul's Church on Chain Lane, Blackbrook after two engines attended at around 4am.

Crews tackled what has been described as an "exterior fire" which had also spread to the ground floor church vestry.

Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used a high pressure hose reel to put the flames out and a triple-extension ladder.

Crews ventilated the vestry and damped down the area.

A Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "We were called at 3.55am and were on scene at 4.01am.

"An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway."