THIRTY firefighters tackled a blaze after a suspected arson attack at a former pub in Little Hulton.

Firefighters were called to the former Horseshoe pub at the junction of Cleggs Lane and Manchester Road East, at about 3.50am this morning.

The fire, which is being treated as arson, spread throughout the ground floor of the building, but no structural damage is believed to have been caused.

Firefighters had to cut their way through wrought iron fencing to gain access to the building. The pub's car park is being used as a car wash, which is unaffected by the fire and open for business as usual.

The fire was started at the entrance of the building.

Firefighters said they struggled to get inside because there were a large number of boxes containing cables on the ground floor.

The boxes are said to have been piled up to the ceiling in some parts of the former bar area.

It is not known who uses the building for storage.

The blaze has caused commuters traffic chaos because the A6 Manchester Road is closed at the junction with Armitage Avenue and Cleggs Lane.

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Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.