Double vehicle arson on Wigan estate

Fire crews were called to Beech Hill at around 1am on Saturday following reports that a car and a van were both alight.

Other news: Taxi hike increase plan for Wigan is delayedA Vauxhall Corsa was well alight on a driveway on Fir Grove while the van was also ablaze parked outside a property on nearby Sycamore Avenue.

Both incidents are being treated as arson.

Firefighters from Hindley station wearing breathing apparatus used hose reels on the car while their colleagues from Wigan station tackled the van blaze.

The crew said the Fir Grove incident could have been a lot more serious.

Crew manager Jeff Westwell said: The car was on someone's drive and they were quite lucky it didn't spread to the house. We got there just in time.

"The fire was well developed when we arrived.

"The driving compartment was completely destroyed but the engine was still intact."

Firefighters have suggested the owners of the two vehicles are known to each other.

However, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) could not say at this stage if the two incidents are linked.

Anyone who knows about either fire is asked to ring police on 101 or call independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.