A CARAVAN was destroyed in a blaze believed to have been started by arsonists.

The vehicle was left gutted in the fire on a driveway on Plodder Lane, Farnworth, which then spread to the house.

Police and the fire service have launched an investigation into the blaze which damaged guttering, the canopy and telephone cables.

No one was in the house at the time. Neighbours have spoken of their horror after the blaze erupted just after 6.30pm this morning, Tuesday October 21.

“It is awful. The family are so nice,” said one neighbour who did not wish to be identified. “Someone knocked on my door and told me the caravan was on fire. The fire service came first and then the police.

“The police were here into the early hours. The firefighters rescued a dog which was in the house.

“The caravan was well alight, it was terrible. What if there had been an explosion. The heat from the fire damaged the car.

The firefighters did a good job to stop it from spreading to other houses and my telephone lines are not working, but they can be fixed. We were all told to stay in our houses while the firefighters tackled the fire because of the smoke.”

Bolton News reader, Paul Childs, who sent us a video of the fire, added: "I live further down Plodder Lane and initially thought it was my sisters house, co I ran up the lane.

"You could feel the heat on the opposite side of the road. Nobody could get near the flames or attempt too.

"I got my sister's boyfriend to move his van back and get out of the house. Pretty scary. The gas cylinder on the tourer exploded. The fire brigade were quickly on the scene and bravely put the fire out very quickly. But a lot of damage was already done unfortunately."

Neighbours raised the alarm and, thankfully, there was no one in the house at the time of the blaze.

Firefighters from Farnworth and Bolton Central were alerted at 6.39pm and police were called at 7pm.

Firefighters were on the scene for three hours and police officers remained there well into the evening.

A window at the house was boarded up following the fire.

Passers-by took to social media and praised the fire service as well as warning motorists of disruption caused by the fire.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said enquiries into the incident were ongoing and appealed for witnesses to get in touch by phoning 101.

He said: “We have opened an investigation into the incident being possible arson.”

n See a video of the fire at theboltonnews.co.uk