STOCK at a martial arts centre has been destroyed after a serious blaze.

Firefighters were called to an outhouse adjoining the Dai Ichi Ryu respect centre, a martial arts and fitness facility and shop in Adelphi Street, Radcliffe, at 12.24pm today.

Six firemen from Bury and Whitefield stations used water jets to put out the blaze and managed to confine it to the ground floor of the detached building.

The centre also sells martial arts and sports equipment under the brand Respect Sport and, as the fire started in a store room where stock is kept, it is believed most of it has been destroyed.

No one was injured in the blaze but the flames have caused severe damage to much of the building.

Firefighters began ‘damping down’ the site to make it safe at 2.30pm before the incident was declared over at around 3pm.

Fire investigators are still at the scene looking into a possible cause for the blaze.

Whitefield watch manager Tony Wellock said: “We managed to stop the fire spreading to the rest of the building but it has caused considerable damage to the store room, which has been destroyed.”