A TOWN centre car repair shop was engulfed in flames after arsonists set fire to tyres and engine parts stored behind the building. 

The fire broke out at P & F Motors, on the corner of Cork Street and Back Manor Street, Bury, at around 5.30pm yesterday.

Fire crews scrambled to the scene and quickly fought back the flames, preventing them from spreading to the rear of the repair shop building.

Peter Appleton, owner of P & F, had left the gates to the repair shop open while he fitted a part to a van, when a colleague ran to tell him a fire had broken out at the back of the shop.

He said: "The gates were open and some kids have come and set a fire.

"I got some water and got two or three of the tyres off, and then the fire engines came and doused it out. I'm very grateful to the fire service.

"There's no effect to my business and no damage, and we are open as usual. But I hope this won't happen again."   

It is suspected that the fire was started deliberately, and a fire service and police investigation has been launched.

P & F Motors has been operating in Cork Street for 23 years, however this is not the first time it has been attacked by arsonists.

Around 10 years ago burglars broke into the shop and set fire to Mr Appleton's breakdown truck when they could not manage to steal if from the building, he said.

An ongoing problem with fly-tipping in the surrounding area has also been reported by the fire service and passed on to Bury Council.

Mr Appleton said that in the latest incident a pile of asbestos sheeting was tipped in the street outside the repair shop last Tuesday. 

He added: "It's the tipping that's the problem and it's still going on."