Fire hits builders’ merchants

FORTY firefighters tackled a fierce blaze at a builders’ merchants on the Chadderton and Mills Hill border overnight.

Fire crews were called out at 1.40am to a suspected arson at a two-storey shop building at WJ Lewis in Mills Hill Road. Six fire engines from Chadderton, Oldham, Blackley and Broughton attended and 20 firefighters using breathing apparatus tackled the blaze.

The blaze, which is being treated as suspicious, caused extensive fire and smoke damage to the building, owned by a family firm which has operated in the Oldham area for 78 years.