A fire has been burning underground for TWO YEARS in a Greater Manchester town

A fire has been burning underground for two years in a Greater Manchester town. Colliery spoil left over from Leigh’s industrial past has been alight under Green Lane since 2021.

A three-week trial to extinguish the smouldering debris is now due to begin. Alongside Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Wigan council has been closely monitoring the situation.

From mid-August, town hall staff will begin working on site with a specialist contractor to trial a new method, with the aim of extinguishing two of the fire’s hotspots on what is known locally as Queensway.

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Aidan Thatcher, director of place at Wigan council, said: "I really want to reassure everyone that there continues to pose no risk to the homes near to the underground fire, either from the fire itself or from the planned trial. We want to be proactive in tackling the underground fire and ensure it continues to present no risk, and to reduce the impact it is having on the local woodland."

The council is working with specialist designers and contractors Wardell Armstrong LLP and Landfill Projects.

Gavin Campbell, service director at Wardell Armstrong LLP, said: "Wigan council have commissioned us as specialists to carry out this trial injection grouting within a small area of smouldering colliery spoil in Queensway Tip in Leigh. The work involves the placement of small quantities of a liquid grout to control and extinguish the fire.

"In the past, tip fires in the borough have been remediated by excavation, cooling and replacement. The trial will not involve significant excavations and should have minimal environmental impact.

"The site working area will be secured during the