STAFF were evacuated and thousands of biscuits burnt after a fire at the Stockport McVitie's factory.

It is believed a belt snapped in an oven at the plant, on Wellington Road North, Heaton Chapel, yesterday (February 3) at 3am.

The 100 yard-long industrial oven caught fire and an estimated tonne of digestive biscuits were destroyed. Around 200 workers on the night shift were also forced to down tools.

Fire engines were called - one from Whitehill and two from Gorton - and crews spent two hours tackling the flames using breathing apparatus and hose reels.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "A tonne of biscuits were destroyed. The oven was still cooking and things backed up and up.

"It was not as easy as opening an oven door to let things cool down as the oven was 100 yards long. You could smell the burning biscuits."

Production had started again later that same day.