FIREFIGHTERS tackled a blaze near a disused railway line that was thought to have been started deliberately.

A crew was dispatched to the fire that had been started underneath the railway bridge in Chorley New Road, Horwich, at around 8pm last night.

According to Glyn McGann, watch manager at Horwich Fire Station, youngsters had set a pile of pallets, cardboard and paper alight.

Mr McGann said: "We just saw smoke pouring from underneath the bridge. It is a main road and the smoke does cause distress for passers-by. The area is fenced off but that had been vandalised.

"It is very early on in the summer holidays but this is a traditional thing that goes on in the summer.

"We ask the public to remain vigilant and report anything they see around that area."

It took the firefighters 10 to 15 minutes to put out the blaze.