FIREFIGHTERS are still on the scene of a major blaze at a town centre foundry, which crews believe was caused by a spark from molten metal.

Dozens of firefighters were called to the Shakespeare Foundry yesterday to tackle the fire, which started just before 3.15pm.

Parts of the ground floor, first floor and roof of the three-story building in Salop Street were ablaze, with plumes of smoke visible across Bolton and parts of Bury.

Three fire engines and an aerial platform were on the scene until midnight last night, with two crews there overnight and two expected to remain in place for most of today.

Officers will ‘damp down’ the site to make it safe, and a dangerous buildings inspector from Bolton Council will check the structure of the foundry.

An official fire inspection report explaining the cause of the blaze is yet to be published, but firefighters believe there are no suspicious circumstances.

It is thought that the fire is likely to have been started by a spark from the processes taking place in the foundry.

Ian Ainsworth, watch manager at Bolton Central fire station, said: “Today crews will carry out damping down and fire inspections to work out the cause of the blaze will take place.

“Salop Street remains shut, and is expected to be closed for most if not all of today, but Stafford Street has now reopened.”

Shakespeare Foundry, which was established in 1982, specialises in making heat-resistant steel plates for the cement and mining industries.