A DISUSED mill was destroyed in a fierce blaze which brought road chaos to Radcliffe on Tuesday.

Nearly 70 firefighters were called to Lancaster Mill in Bolton Road, after flames were seen sweeping through the empty building just before 9pmon Monday night.

The fire crews from stations throughout Greater Manchester spent up to three hours bringing the blaze under control but the first storey and roof space of one section of the mill was destroyed.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were sent into the burning building while other crews used aerial platforms to tackle flames in the roof space from the outside.

Today fire and police investigators were trying to pinpoint the cause of the fire but it is believed that youths were seen inside the building shortly before the blaze started.

Parts of Bolton Road, near to the junction with Stopes Road, remained closed this morning while building inspectors surveyed the structure of the mill for damage.

A fire brigade spokesman said no businesses were based in the mill.

Station Officer Roy Grundy, from Bury fire station, said: "We won't know the cause until the investigation is complete but we are probably looking at arson.

"Fortunately the building was unoccupied but the flames spread very quickly through wooden floors and partition walls. The lads who were first on the scene did a very good job.

"The road was closed to help protect the public as well as our crews who were working partly in the road."