Blaze forces hundreds to flee

Photo: Darren Robinson

Taking hold... the blaze tears through Maple Mill in Hathershaw early this morning

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AROUND 100 houses were evacuated as a massive blaze ripped through Maple Mill in Hathershaw this morning.

Large parts of the building collapsed as around 80 firefighters tackled the inferno which could been seen for miles.

The blaze at the former cotton mill in Cardwell Street, the former base of kitchen boss Vance Miller, started in the early hours.

Roads were cordoned off and residents were evacuated to the Honeywell Centre in Ashton Road. Others were told to keep their windows and doors closed as the fire service declared a major incident.

No-one is believed to have been injured and a police spokesman said it was "far too early to say" if the blaze was suspicious.

Robert Butler (43) who lives opposite the mill feared that his house was in danger as parts of the building collapsed. "I am very worried, If the rest of the place collapses it could fall on my house."

Several residents told the Oldham Chronicle that they had been told to keep their doors and windows closed and wear masks because of a risk of asbestos in the building.

They also said that travellers had been camped in the mill until yesterday.

Mr Butler added: "People are always in there starting fires. It's just been left and forgotten about."

The mill was severely damaged in 2009 when Miller's main kitchen factory caught fire and there have been regular incidents since

Nicola Knowles: "It was just a little bit at the top of the mill on fire at the start then it spread and it started to collapse. We have all been expecting it - every week there's a fire there. It's been waiting to happen."

Penny Bardsley (19) of Cardwell Street, who was wearing a mask as a precaution, said: "I was woken up at 5am by the bright lights of the fire engines. At half past they said were were going to be evacuated. The top floor was on fire first and it spread quickly."

The fire service said that it was too dangerous to enter the building and that crews were trying to extinguish the inferno "from all angles".

The North-West Ambulance Service was also on the scene, Oldham Council, and United Utilities were also on the scene.

Fire chief Warren Pickstone said: "Crews are working incredibly hard to tackle this fire.

"We are working hard with our colleagues at the police to protect surrounding properties, about 100 properties in the immediate area have been evacuated."Tyres are also involved in the fire so it's emitting a thick acrid smoke, we are asking nearby residents to keep their windows and doors closed."