A MASSIVE fire at a tip in Horwich threatened to cut off electricity to farms, businesses and homes in Chorley New Road last night.

At the height of the blaze at Armstrong Tip, firefighters from Bolton Central, Horwich and Eccles fought to keep the flames away from an 11,000 volt overhead cable, as well as potentially explosive cylinders of propane and butane gas.

The fire was particularly difficult to keep under control because it was deep seated and because of the amount of combustible material on the tip. Fire crews used a mile long hose to reach the blaze.

This morning they were still tackling the fire and two earth diggers were removing the rubbish affected by the blaze.

Fire crews were expected to remain at the scene for the rest of today at least.

As reported in the BEN on Monday a massive grass fire around Red Moss Tip in Horwich closed a main rail line and threatened electricity supplies to hundreds of homes iover the weekend.

The new Wanderers stadium was not affected by either of the blazes.

Firemen were joined by a crew from Chorley when they were called out to a grass fire on the moors above Belmont at 7pm yesterday.

The firefighters spent about half an hour tackling the blaze which destroyed about an acre of moorland.

A spokesman for the fire service said conditions were very dry and urged the public to be extra vigilant, particularly when discarding cigarettes or matches.

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