CARPETS being stored in a large shipping container were destroyed following a blaze in Radcliffe.

A member of the public alerted the fire service that the large container, which is one of a number of containers stored on Belmont Road, was on fire after they saw smoke emanating from it.

Fire crews from Whitefield and Farnworth fire stations spent about an hour putting out the fire, at about 5pm, but all of the items in the container, including carpets, carpet roll ends and carpet samples, were destroyed.

An investigation into the blaze is continuing, but firefighters said the container was locked when they arrived.

It is not currently known who owns the container.