TWO firefighters were injured as they tackled a massive blaze at Pembroke Halls in Walkden last night.

The two men, from Farnworth Fire Station, were rushed to Bolton General for treatment after part of the ceiling collapsed on top of them.

One officer dislocated a shoulder and the other suffered head injuries and concussion.

Station officer Alan Butterworth from Farnworth said that both men were laster discharged from hospital. The officers, who have not been named, were among six crews who fought the fire which started just before 11pm. They were able to contain the blaze to the first floor dance hall and bar area of the Salford Council owned centre, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.

Station Officer Butterworth said that the cause of the the blaze is believed to have been an electrical fault in an ice-making machine stored in a back room near the bar. An eye-witness, Mrs Janet Rathbone, who lives at nearby Bickershaw Drive, said: "The whole sky turned orange with the blaze. It is such a shame because it was a very popular local amenity."

DJ Mike Prince, who has staged many events there, said the hall was packed on Saturday evening for a charity night for Pendlebury Children's Hospital. Mr Prince said: "Saturday was a great night so the news of the fire has come as a great shock."

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