BREAKING: Smoke billows into air as fire crews tackle blaze at house with main road shut by police

Firefighters are tackling a blaze at a house on a main road in Bolton this morning.

The fire has broken out in an empty terraced house on Chorley Old Road. Police officers have closed off a stretch of the busy road.

A number of crews are currently tackling the blaze. People have been urged to avoid the area and residents who live nearby have been told to keep their windows and doors shut.

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Pictures and video footage taken at the scene this morning show plumes of smoke billowing from the roof the building. Large flames can be seen through a smashed window on the ground floor of the property.

A cordon is in place around the area. Firefighters are using a platform to extinguish the flames.

In a statement posted on Twitter this morning, the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: "Firefighters are currently tackling a fire at an empty terraced house on Chorley Old Road, Bolton. Please avoid the area as road closures are in place.

"We’re advising residents nearby to keep windows and doors closed."

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