Hunt continues for 'arsonist' who trashed derelict social club

Officers are still hunting a suspected arsonist who torched a derelict social club in Leigh this week. Firefighters spent five hours at the scene on Railway Road on Tuesday evening (July 5) as a dramatic blaze ravaged the building.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed the incident is being treated as arson. In an update issued on Thursday (July 7), GMP says it is yet to make any arrests in connection with the fire.

Dramatic pictures and video footage show huge flames escaping from the ground floor windows, with thick plumes of black smoke masking the area. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said the fire had spread to both the ground and first floors of the property, with multiple fire engines at the scene to tackle the blaze.

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The former Conservative club, which opened in the late 1800s, is understood to have closed its doors almost a decade ago. It later reopened as the Leigh 180 club some years later before it shut for good.

In a statement issued yesterday, a spokesperson for GMFRS said: “Just after 5.30pm (Tuesday, July 5) we were called to reports of a building fire on Railway Road, Leigh. Three fire engines from Leigh, Atherton, and Hindley fire stations were quickly at the scene, where crews encountered a fire involving the ground floor and first floor of a derelict commercial property.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels and specialist equipment to extinguish the blaze and clear smoke from the building. Crews were in attendance for around five hours.”

Anyone with information about the fire is urged to contact GMP using the LiveChat facility on the force's website or call 101, quoting