Investigation to commence after huge fire tears through restaurant

An investigation will commence into the cause of a huge fire at an Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant in Bolton on Monday afternoon (November 27).

Fire crews swarmed the scene of the blaze at the Lime Tree restaurant on Bolton Road (A6053) in Farnworth at around 12.40pm, with police cordoning off the main road as efforts continued to dampen the growing flames.

Huge clouds of smoke billowed overhead as a five fire engines and a drone unit worked to put out the fire for a number of hours. One witness reported police and ambulance crews were also at the scene, but it's not known whether there have been any injuries reported.

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Bolton Road remained closed throughout the afternoon and into the night from Francis Street to Egerton Street. It is understood an investigation will now commence into the cause of the fire.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At around 12.40pm on Monday 27 November, fire crews were called to reports of a fire at a commercial building on Bolton Road, Farnworth.

“Five fire engines from Bolton Central, Bolton North, Farnworth, Salford and Eccles stations, as well as the turntable ladder from Bolton Central and the drone unit, were quickly mobilised to the incident.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used three hose reels and other specialist equipment to extinguish the fire, which broke out in the roof of the property. GMFRS crews remain at the scene.”