THE body of a man has been recovered from a factory where fire crews were called to deal with a chemical leak.

It is thought the man, who is in his 50s and from Oswestry, Shropshire, was overcome by ammonia fumes at the factory in Lowton, Leigh.

Police and fire crews were called to Stone Cross Enterprise Park at 2pm on Tuesday.

More than 40 firefighters in chemical protection suits worked throughout the night to isolate the source of the leak.

People living near the industrial estate were advised to keep windows and doors shut, and pupils at Golborne High School and All Saints Primary School were kept inside during the lunchtime period.

The man is believed to have been an employee of the company and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire Service said a meeting will take place today between senior police, fire and Health and Safety Executive officers.

A police spokesman said the man will be formally identified today and a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

He said: "Specially trained hazardous material officers from the fire service have been liaising with members of our Technical Support Team, who are specialists from Manchester University attached to the fire service."