Warehouse blaze was 'started deliberately'

Investigation under way after huge fire causes significant destruction of the building and most contents' at storage unit

- CHRIS SLATER

A HUGE fire that ripped through a storage warehouse is now being treated as having been started deliberately.

It comes as bosses at the facility reveal there has been significant destruction of the building and most contents.'

The fire broke out at the Armadillo Self Storage Unit on Earl Road in Cheadle around lam yesterday morning.

Crews were greeted by a 'significant' and 'well-established fire and at its height around 20 fire engines and 130 firefighters were involved in the operation to tackle the flames, which sent plumes of thick black smoke billowing over Cheadle and Handforth.

Two major roads, the A555 Manchester Airport Eastern Link Road and A34 Handforth Bypass, were both closed as a result.

They later reopened but Stanley Road, Wilmslow Road and Earl Road remained closed yesterday afternoon.

The response was scaled back later in the morning, with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) saying the fire had been brought under control.