THE managing director of a Leigh chemical company stood in shocked silence as flames ripped through a Victorian warehouse causing more than £250,000 damage.

Jack Harrison could only shake his head in disbelief as more than two dozen firefighters from Leigh, Atherton and Hindley fire stations fought the blaze at Delmarco Ltd., in Brewery Lane, which had started in an upper floor.

Fire chiefs are investigating the cause of the fire which totally destroyed the roof and top floor of the former brewery building, a bonded area with limited access to the company's 14 employees.

The fire was discovered by Gary Peachey, a warehouse assistant, who had been sent into the building to collect some items. It is believed the fire was started by an electrical fault in the roof area which housed dry goods such as soap powder, paper, aerosols and glass.

Tom Proudfoot, Divisional Fire Officer, said: "We had to send four tenders and an aerial appliance to fight the fire and it will take at least two days to properly damp down the building. The timber upper floor and the roof timbers were tinder dry and the fire spread very quickly indeed. It is a miracle that nobody was injured or killed."

And stunned Mr. Harrison added: "I am too shocked to say much, other than to say that I will be speaking to local companies in Leigh to find alternative storage premises.

"I am confident that we will be able to rebuild but I expect we will be out of action for a week or so."

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