A FIRE at a chip shop was caused after an unused fryer was accidentally turned on.

A crew from Bury Fire Station was called to the shop on Tottington Road in Bury at around 4.05pm yesterday, Friday, when one of the deep fat fryers caught fire.

It is thought the fryer was not used for cooking but was filled with scraps and cardboard.

Watch manager Gary Stredder said: “What we think has happened is there were two ladies there and one of them has told the other to turn the fryers on to heat up.

“She then went off to the shop and other lady switched the fryers on and then went to the toilet.

“The fryer at the end wasn’t used for frying but had scraps and maybe some cardboard in there which has cause the fire and because it was unattended it was able to spread.”

The women attempted to put out the fire, which had spread to the chip ranger and the kitchen area, themselves before leaving the premises and calling the fire service.

Neither was injured but both were taken to hospital as a precaution.

“It was just an accident and the woman that turned the fryers on is devastated,” said Mr Stredder.

“They did try and put out the fire with an extinguisher that would have worked if it had been an oil filled fryer but because it wasn’t they left the premises and called us which was the right thing to do.

“We also evacuated one gentleman from a flat upstairs as it had been affected by smoke but he was allowed back in once we had cleared it.”

The crew used breathing apparatus, an extinguisher and a hose reel to put out the fire as well as a ventilation fan to clear the smoke from the building.