March 13, 1968

MORE than £15,000 worth of stock and machinery have been destroyed after a fire swept through a Bury timber yard and stockroom in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Nearby residents were evacuated from their homes as fire crews attended the scene for over 10 hours — first battling the flames and then dampening down timber — after the fire took hold at the premises of joiner and builder Eric Bradley in South Cross Street.

Despite the damage the company’s seven employees will be retained and the business, founded 35 years ago by Mr Bradley and now run by his 31-year-old son, Colin, will continue to operate from its current premises.

It is still unclear what sparked the blaze, however as stringent fire precautions are enforced at the site and employees are band from smoking.

A spokesman for Bury Fire Brigade said: “We have no idea of the cause of the fire but it is pretty certain it started on the first floor.”

Mrs Susan McCormick, aged 77, who lives adjacent to the burned out building, spent the night making tea for firemen despite fears her home might be destroyed.

She said: “I heard glass cracking in the fire and so went across the street to a neighbour’s home.

“I was worried that my house might be damaged but the only thing was water at the back.

“The fire men did a grand job.”

A BURY couple have been delayed in relocating to Ireland to run a youth hostel due to three young puppies and their pet dogs.

Mr and Mrs Herbert Kane cannot currently take their dogs to the country due foot and mouth disease restrictions, and must also find homes for three seven week old terrier pups.

The pair will be moving to the village of Kinsale in County Cork and are hoping to be at the hostel by March 31 for the start of the busy season.

They will leave their 24-year-old daughter Sheelagh behind in charge of a third dog and a cat.

Mr Kane said: “My wife was the Kinsale youth hostel last season from April to October.

“It is a beautiful place and we are both looking forward to living there.

“Our only problem is the dogs. As soon as we have found homes for the pups and are given permission to to take our pets into Ireland we shall set off.”