A WALKER visiting the viewing point at Anglezarke Reservoir alerted firefighters to a blaze in a nearby quarry yesterday.

Firefighters from Horwich and Chorley stations were called to Moor Road shortly after midday.

They had to tie themselves to the top of the quarry with rope to ensure they did not fall down as they fought the flames.

A crew then used a specialist all-terrain vehicle to go into the quarry and put out the fire, which was extinguished by 3.15pm.

Andy Skittrall, who dialled 999 from the viewing area, said: “The views there are usually fantastic, so you don’t expect to see a fire like that.

“I noticed a lot of smoke coming from the quarry so I called the fire brigade, who fought the fire from the Yew Tree Inn.”