LIVE: Firefighters rush to tackle blaze at former Hyde Library building

Emergency services are tackling a fire at the former Hyde Library building in Tameside this evening.

Fire crews were called to the building on Union Street in Hyde at around 5pm on Monday evening (March 21) following reports of a fire. People are being advised to avoid the area.

The building has lain dormant since 2015, when the library service moved to its new premises at Hyde Town Hall on Greenfield Street. It is not yet known how the fire started or the extent of the incident.

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Three fire engines, from Hyde, Stalybridge and Ashton fire stations, are currently in attendance. In October last year, Hyde Godley councillor Joe Kitchen described the former library building as a ‘key site’ for the centre of Hyde.

Tameside Council chiefs recently agreed to declare the building as 'surplus to requirements' and suggested retention of the site was likely to be expensive. However, council bosses denied they were ‘washing its hands’ of it.

The Manchester Evening News has contacted Greater Manchester Fire Service for further details on the incident.

We will post the latest updates on this incident in our live blog below.

Photos from the scene show fire crews in attendance.

Greater Manchester Fire Service have sent in a statement. Fire crews remain at the scene.

A GMFRS spokesperson said: “At around 5pm this evening (Monday 21st March), three fire engines from Hyde, Stalybridge and Ashton fire stations were called to reports of building fire involving a Library on Union Street, Hyde.

“Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatuses used a nine-meter ladder and a hose reel to extinguish the fire.

“Firefighters have