WORKERS were evacuated after a major blaze at a Bolton town centre factory.

It is believed the blaze was started by workmen welding on the roof.

It took only minutes for the flames to spread through the building at the junction of High Street and Derby Street.

The two workmen scrambled down scaffolding and went into the building to alert staff and they managed to led six workers people from Deluxe Hosiery to safety. One person at an Asian newspaper office also managed to flee the blaze.

The building was completely destroyed and a wall was in danger of toppling over onto a neighbouring house.

The two workmen were taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke.

Five fire engines raced to the scene and nearby roads were cordoned off.

Eyewitness Mr Yacub Ibrahim, owner of Bridgeman News in Bridgeman Street near Derby Street said he saw smoke and flames billowing out from the fire.

He said: "All the air went black and dark and some of the residents nearby were running out of their houses just in their socks.

"It was a very bad fire. All the cars had stopped and there are lots of people around watching. It was really busy."

Further news and pictures on this web site and also in the print version of the BEN on Saturday