P O L I C E h a v e launched an investigation into an e a rl y m o r n i n g arson attack at a garage.

The blaze ravaged an outside car port at Fish Motors in Bury New Road, Breightmet, as well as damaging a Ford Focus and a single-storey office.

Firefighters from Bolton prevented the fire from spreading to the neighbouring car lot containing a number of vehicles.

Officers spent three hours at the scene after being called out around 12.30am yesterday.

Watch commander Andy Hardman,from Bolton Central fire station, said: “We believe the car port is used as a valeting area to clean vehicles.

“It’s attached to the single-storey office.

We are putting the cause of the fire down to deliberate ignition.

“The fire spread from the car port to the office building and we had to break into it. There was smoke and fire damage.

“Nearby was a car lot with around 50 vehicles. But we managed to contain the fire to the one lone car, the Ford Focus, and to a part of the building.

“It was a really good stop.”

Fire crews from Bolton Central and Bolton North were at the scene until around 3.30am.

No-one at Fish Motors wanted to speak about the incident.

Police inquiries into the incident are ongoing.

à Anyone with information is asked to contact the CID at Bolton on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.