A DETACHED house in Atherton was wrecked and its roof had to be stripped off following a massive blaze in the loft.

Five people who were in the house when the fire broke out last night all got out uninjured. But the house was uninhabitable and under tarpaulin sheets today.

It was one of several fires in the Bolton and Bury area last night which gave crews a hectic start to the New Year.

Fire officers who dealt with the Atherton blaze said the occupants had time to evacuate because a young girl doing her homework in her bedroom noticed smoke and raised the alarm.

Extensive damage was caused to a first floor bedroom, and there was also water damage on the ground floor.

Firefighters had to strip off the roof tiles after the blaze in the large, chalet-type house at High Bank, Breeze Hill off Newbrook Road.

The fire at around 8.30pm last night, is believed to have been started by an electrical short circuit in the loft.

Police probing a serious blaze at a multi-occupancy mill in Bury believe it may have been started deliberately.

A police spokesman confirmed today that there were "signs of a forced entry" at Britannia Mill in Bridge Street.

Luckily, the blaze was contained by the sprinkler system but there was serious water damage to parts of the building.

A firecrew which dealt with the blaze at 2am said the unit contained highly flammable material including toilet and kitchen rolls.

A spokesman said that potentially the fire could have been massive, but the flames activated the sprinkler system which contained the blaze.

Other incidents included grill pan fires at houses in Darwen Road, Bromley Cross and Morris Green Lane, Daubhill. There were no injuries in either case.

A shed and its contents were destroyed by fire in a garden in Skelwith Avenue, Great Lever last night.

Firefighters were called out at 9pm after the owner spotted the flames. That blaze is also thought to have been started by an intruder.

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