Blaze at Wardle farm

A blaze at a single-storey workshop attached to a Wardle farm house took fire fighters from across Rochdale several hours to tackle.

The blaze on Clough House Lane in Wardle started shortly after 12 noon on today Saturday 13 April.

Fire crews from Rochdale were initially sent to the farm but due to restricted access to water supplies requested support from other fire stations.

They were joined by fire fighters from Heywood Fire Station and retained fire fighters from Littleborough Fire Station.

Wearing breathing apparatus the crews used jets to put the fire out.

Watch Manager Tom Hague, from Rochdale Fire Station, said: "Quick actions of the crews prevented the fire spreading to the main farm house building.

"However, it took us a while to access water as the nearest source was a quarter of a mile away - where we set up a light portable pump to allow water to reach the fire.

"Due to the access issues we are often faced with at such incidents can we remind owners of farms to be extra vigilant and ensure that they have had a Home Safety Check with GMFRS."

The workshop was damaged during the fire and initial findings indicate that the fire started in a generator shed adjacent to the workshop.