Blaze rips through riding stables

UP to 30 fire-fighters tackled a blaze which ripped through a riding stables in Dobcross last night.

Stables and a hayloft at Husteads Riding School, in Streetbridge Lane, were engulfed by flames, and emergency crews were forced to pump water from a lodge 40 metres away.

The fire service was alerted at 7.40pm, and arrived to find staff had led all the horses to safety, and the building well alight.

Fire-fighters from Chadderton, Mossley and Oldham attended, along with an operational support unit from Hyde.

They used four jets to get the blaze under control, and were still there this morning damping down.

The fire took hold as it spread to hay stored in a loft, and fire-fighters fought to contain the blaze from all sides.

Once the flames were out, the remaining hay had to be dragged out to make sure no sparks remained which could reignite and cause a further fire.

The riding school, which has been operating for 40 years, has a total of 26 horses.