LIVE: Businesses 'evacuated' over gas fears following Stockport fire - updates

Businesses have reportedly been evacuated over gas safety concerns following a fire which broke out near to the M60 in Stockport earlier this afternoon.

Motorists have reported seeing smoke around junction 1 of the motorway. It's thought the source of the smoke is close to an industrial estate by the A5145, just off the pyramid roundabout.

The area around the A5145 is known for being home to several car dealerships, plus other industrial units. It is unclear at this stage what caused the fire.

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Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has been contacted for comment. Please check below for the latest updates on this developing incident.

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Thanks very much for reading, this is where our live coverage of the fire comes at an end.

One Twitter user, called Ryan, has shared a photo on the plume of smoke which rose across Stockport this afternoon. As we understand it, the fire has now been extinguished.

pic.twitter.com/iFXquHb3f0

Police have remained at the scene for a number of hours this afternoon. I’m told the fire is now out but there were fears about it spreading so local businesses were evacuated @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/wZSmgIdRhu

A member of staff from a nearby business said: “We had customers in and we were told they had to evacuate. You could