Manchester fire destroys neon sign shop

A "fierce blaze" has destroyed a neon sign shop in Manchester.

Crews from Stretford, Hyde and Salford were called to the fire on Chester Road at about 08:10 GMT.

Greater Manchester Fire's Paul Duggan said the fire spread through the entire building, but that crews "surrounded the blaze" to bring it under control.

A Manchester City Council spokesman said the road between Bridgewater Way and Mancunian Way was "likely to remain partially closed over the weekend".

An eyewitness said it was a "fierce blaze" and the heat from it could be felt "across the road, 40 or 50 feet away".

Mr Duggan said it was "a fairly large fire by the time crews got there" and that firefighters had had to break into neighbouring properties to stop the fire spreading.

He added the service's Hazardous Materials Officer had attended the scene, as it was thought a number of chemicals were among items on fire inside.

Following an inspection of the damage by an engineer, demolition of the building is under way.