DRIVERS are delayed this morning in Ramsbottom after a fire at an MOT station. 

Four fire crews were called to the fire last night and are still working at the scene to make the area safe and police are directing traffic in Whalley Road.

The fire broke out at Garic MOT Station in Whalley Road this morning.

Fire crews from Ramsbottom and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene after being called at 2.05am. 

They were aided by the command support unit and support pump from Rochdale.

Kayleigh Fearn, who lives in Whalley Road, near to Garic, said she was woken up by 'loud bangs and pops' and called the fire service who were already on their way. 

The site is used by both Garic MOT Station and Cross Plant Hire, which is owned by Garic's directors. 

Cross Plant Hire is still operating this morning but their yard is not in use and Garic staff are waiting for the all clear from the fire brigade. 

Firefighters wearing two breathing apparatus used two jets, two hose reels, a thermal imaging scanner and a cooling monitor to extinguish the flames.

A single-storey external storage unit and an adjoining steel workshop measuring 20x30m were involved in the fire as were four cylinders which crews are still at the scene working to cool down.

At 11am GMFRS confirmed it was still att he scene and that the four cylinders had been successfully cooled. 

Electricity Northwest also visited the site and confirmed the electrical supply to the unit is safe. 

Two fire crews are still at the scene continuing to damp down the area. 

Police are still there managing traffic along the road.