FIREBUGS are being blamed for starting a blaze which damaged an exterior section of a Radcliffe factory.

The fire, at the premises of GMG Products in Cams Lane, involved a quantity of plastic waste material.

Flames damaged the outside wall and the heat generated caused a sprinkler inside the factory to activate. Fire crews from Whitefield and Bury spent two hours at the scene following the blaze on Sunday (Sept 23).

Station Officer Brian Nuttall of Bury fire station said: "The waste product was outside, next to the building. We think it has been ignited by children. The heat was severe enough to cause the radiated heat to go into the insulation panels and the walls. That set off a sprinkler inside.

"The building was heavily smoke-logged. The plastic waste had been in a covered storage area. About 30 sq metres of the wall was damaged and there was minimal water damage inside".