FIRE crews were sent to a blaze at a welding company in the Tonge Bridge industrial estate.

A man was welding when some sparks caused by the work set fire to his work bench.

The blaze took hold fairly quickly, possibly exacerbated by oil residue on the floor, and the worker was unable to put it out.

Firefighters were on the scene within ten minutes, after being called at 5.20pm on March 31, and had dealt with the fire within 15 minutes.

The welding bench was burnt but the damage was kept to a minimum, although the premises was left smoke-logged.