UP TO 50 people had to be evacuated following a factory blaze in Horwich.

Workers at disposable paper manufacturer Georgia Pacific battled in vain to put out the blaze after a paper machine caught fire.

They used fire extinguishers to try to put out the flames but were overcome by smoke and had to evacuate the building.

Fifteen firefighters tackled the blaze at the factory in Mansell Way last night.

The factory's sprinkler system doused some of the flames but smoke filled most of the factory.

Electricians from the company helped firefighters dismantle the machinery.

Firefighters were still at the scene this morning.