A CAR was completely destroyed in a fire thought to have been started deliberately.

Firefighters tackled the blaze in Mill Street, Farnworth, last night after reports of the Peugeot 206 well alight.

A crew from Farnworth Fire Station rushed to the scene at 10.35pm.

Martin Collinge, crew manager at Farnworth, said: "When we went down we found the vehicle well alight. We used one hose reel and breathing apparatus to put it out.

"It was totally burnt out and we found there was no battery in the car and all the damage was right inside the vehicle."

Because of the lack of battery and the nature of the damage, Mr Collinge believed it was started deliberately.

Information has been passed to the police.