A CIGARETTE thrown from the window of a train may have sparked a fire that destroyed acres of grassland close to Bolton.

Firefighters from Atherton were called to the grassland close to Mort Lane, between Little Hulton and Tyldesley at 10am on Saturday.

A Bolton-based special four-wheel drive fire engine was taken to the scene because the land was so inaccessible.

A fire spokesman said between one and two acres of grass was destroyed and it took them an hour to make the area safe.

A fire spokesman said: "A discarded cigarette is most likely the cause. The area is close to a railway line and it is possible it could have come from a passing train."