AN OIL spillage which created a stream of leaking fuel could have blown up an entire Bolton back street of terraced homes, a fire chief has revealed.

The fuel threatened the homes in Shipton Street, Doffcocker, when it seeped along the cobbled street after leaking from oil drums in a disused factory yard.

And today an investigation was underway to establish and trace the owners of the drums at the centre of the drama.

Council workmen, environmental health pollution experts and fire crews were called in yesterday to help in the massive clean-up operation after anxious residents raised the alarm.

A council gritter had to be called to the scene to help soak up the oil along the street.

Fire bosses, who also discovered a plastic bin filled with an oily substance in a hut in the factory complex itself, admitted the spillage could have had serious consequences.

Station officer Dave Pimblett from Bolton Central said: "Oil is difficult to ignite but if someone had known what they were doing and added petrol then it would not have been too difficult.

"There is plenty of combustible material around. The whole back street would probably have gone up.

"If a fire had occurred of such intensity then all the combustible materials around the hut would have been ablaze. There would have been a plume of black smoke to some tune."

As council employees spread sand across the road, following the spillage at about 11am, residents talked about their concerns.

Jim and Donna Pickles, whose house in Shipton Street is yards from the industrial complex, say they first noticed an oil spillage about four weeks ago. And Mr Pickles claims he has regularly had to force youngsters to leave the premises, which front on to Sofa Street, after they had sneaked on to the complex through broken fencing.

He added: "It's been a real pain for us. We have even spotted kids going in there to have a smoke."

Yesterday environmental health bosses were trying to trace the site's owner, to discuss the spillage. A council spokesman confirmed site agents connected with the premises had been spoken to.

He added: "The main issue is to find the owners so we can ensure they stop access to the back of the site and to make sure any oils are cleaned up."