FIRE-FIGHTERS battled through the night at the former William Hare Gin Pit works after a fire broke out on the roof and fourth floor of the derelict building.

Seven pumps were needed to extinguish the fire which broke out at 4.30pm last Wednesday. The fire was scaled down through the night and was finally put out at 9.30 the next morning.

A spokesman for the Atherton firecrew said: "Only the shell of the building is left and has been handed over to the dangerous buildings inspector."

It is suspected that the fire was started by vandals.

Joe Gorringe, a trustee at the Astley and Tyldesley Miners Welfare club, said: "I was watching from the club and I saw a gang of about 25 vandals aged 8-16 coming out of the building."

Mr Gorringe went on to say that him and many others in the area think the building is an eyesore: "They should have let it burn down. It's a miracle there's been no one killed in there. Something needs to be done before any children get injured."

Peter Molyneux, who lives almost opposite the building on Meanley Road, said: "The pumps were taking so much pressure that the water supply to the village was cut off.

The only road leading in or out of the village was also sealed off to make room for the fire-fighting platform."

The roof of another building in the Gin Pit works was set alight the following day. It is suspected that this smaller fire was started by gangs of youths.