THE vestry of a church was destroyed after being set alight by arsonists.

The building, which is connected to St Stephen's Church in Astley, was gutted by the blaze which happened at 2.30am on Sunday.

The rest of the church in Manchester Road was smoke-logged.

Three pumps were called to the scene and a team of 14 firefighters managed to contain the blaze.

Sub officer Ray Berry, of Atherton station, said: "The church doors held the fire back just about. If the fire had gone on any longer it would have affected the church more than it did."

Firefighters were at the scene for three hours.