EIGHT cars were destroyed in a fire at a scrapyard.

It happened in Barlow Street, Walkden, at 12.30am.

The site was near Anthony Axford’s timber merchant but the fire service managed to stop the fire spreading to the building.

It is believed the fire was started deliberately.

Crews from Farnworth, Bolton Central and Atherton attended the blaze.

Watch Manager for Farnworth, Ian Ainsworth, said: “When we arrived the cars were well alight but our main concern was that the fire could spread to nearby buildings.

“Fortunately we managed to stop that. It could have been much worse than it was.”