FIRE crews have been battling through the night to put out a huge blaze in Bury.

At its height up to 40 firefighters were tackling the fire at the former Spur petrol works on Walmersley Road.

When crews arrived they found the four-storey building well alight and concerns were raised over hazardous substances in the property.

However, when the owner was traced it was revealed the building was empty but there were fears the blaze would spread.

After a long battle crews managed to bring the fire under control. However, residents living closeby were told to keep windows and doors shut as smoke bellowed from the scene.

Parts of the building's roof have collapsed in the fire but it is thought the property will not have to be demolished.

A section of Walmersley Road close to its junction with Walmersley Old Road was closed while fire fighters brought the blaze under control. It was reopened in the early hours of the morning.

Firefighters were still at the scene this morning and an investigation into the cause is expected to begin.

Crews from Bolton, Ramsbottom and Salford dealt with the incident while their Bury counterparts tackled a fire in a yard elsewhere, thought to have been started by children.

mike.keegan@men-news.co.uk

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