Crews tackle pub fire

Crews from Atherton, Hindley, Leigh and Wigan were called just after midnight on Tuesday, September 8, to the former Poets Corner pub on Spa Road.

When firefighters arrived the building was well alight with flames coming from the roof and an aerial appliance was used to douse the fire from above.

Watch manager Ian Gardner, from Atherton Fire Station, said: “Flames were coming through the roof when we got there so two teams with breathing apparatus entered the pub, before we used the aerial appliance.

“It was a complex building due to the pub adjoining a former living accommodation. We brought the fire under control and gradually scaled the incident down. One crew remains at the scene dampening down.

“It would appear the fire could have been started deliberately and an investigation is under way into the cause.”