Arsonists wreck coaches

Five coaches parked in the compound at the family-owned Chesters and Sons Coach Station, in Sharp Street, Walkden, were gutted in the ferocious blaze which also wrecked four cars parked in an adjacent compound, and damaged a further 10.

But this morning, despite the devastation, a spokesman for the company remained defiant, saying that they would "pull through" with the help of their friends in the coach world.

Three fire crews battled against the blaze for more than three hours into the early hours of the morning.

The alarm was only raised when smoke drifted over the nearby motorway, and was caught on a police camera.

An officer was sent to investigate, and the fire service was called.

However, the compound was already well-alight, and all the coaches parked outside were destroyed.

Police were this morning investigating the fire which is thought to have been started in one of the coaches.

Four 53-seater coaches and one 21-seater coach were wrecked.

Two fire crews from Farnworth, and one from Agecroft, battled against the blaze until 2.45am.

A fire spokesman said: "Nothing left outside in the compound was untouched by the fire."

The coach station is a family firm, run by Harry and Diane Chester for 10 years, who work there with their sons, Anthony, 19, and Christopher, 16.

Harry and Diane are currently on holiday in Lanzarote and were telephoned by their sons who broke the news to them this morning.

Spokesman for the company, Diane's sister, Carline Natine, said: "We are all stunned by what has happened. Four coaches and a mini-bus have been destroyed leaving us two that were left in the garage. But we will pull through and are sure our friends in other coach companies will rally round."

The cars destroyed belong to the adjacent Citreon garage, Langford and Thomson Ltd.

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