MOTORISTS were warned to avoid parts of north Manchester this morning after a major fire in an empty industrial unit.

The blaze, thought to have been started deliberately, broke out at a building on French Barn Lane in Blackley, at 4.30am.

Firefighters were still on the scene hours later as rush-hour traffic began to build up.

French Barn Lane was closed between its junctions with Plant Hill Road and Oakworth Street.