AN estimated 170 properties were left without power in Westhoughton after a fire in a commercial garage in the early hours of this morning.

Neighbours in Wigan Road called out firefighters at 3am after spotting the blaze in South Grove Garage.

Crews from Bolton, Atherton and Hindley tackled the fire in the detached single-storey lock-up which housed around six vehicles.

A specialist high-pressure lance was used to shoot water at the brick work to break inside and cool down the fire before the roller doors were cut open with a saw.

Neighbour Marcus Pollard was woken by the three engines arriving outside.

He said: "There were blue lights flashing through the bedroom window.

"I couldn't see the fire, just a lot of engines outside. A few of us have lost power as well."

Other neighbours reported waking to the smell of burning electrics.

The fire caught hold of some equipment in the lock-up and there was smoke damage inside, but the blaze was stopped before it spread to the vehicles.

Firefighters were on the scene for around four hours and the cause of the fire is being investigated.

The blaze and the water used by the firefighters affected the electricity supply in the property and power was cut to neighbouring homes.

Electricity North West electricians are currently on the scene and reported that an estimated 170 homes lost power.

They said there had been ‘quite significant damage to the electrics’ and engineers have been drilling into the ground to access the main cable and make it safe.

The company has reported that 68 properties are still without electricity but it hopes to have the power restored by 12pm.