A TEAM of 40 firefighters battled a moorland blaze that threatened to engulf farmhouses and a forest on the outskirts of Bolton early today.

At its height the fire -- which raged between Chapeltown, Cox Green and Dimple for more than 10 hours -- covered at least four square miles.

The flames could be seen from as far away as Farnworth and the fire brigade received emergency calls from anxious residents across the borough.

It lit up the skyline before 11pm last night but was still burning at 11am today.

Sub officer Ian Medcalf, from the Bolton North fire station, said: "We do not usually tackle moorland fires at night because it is so dangerous for the crews.

"But this one was so big that we had to fight it in the dark to protect people's property. The firewall was at least two miles wide."

Six fire crews from Bolton and Farnworth were called to the fire during the night.

The fire was so big that the crews had to approach it from different villages.

Some of the firefighters fought the flames near Chapeltown, while others moved in from Cox Green and Dimple.

A stand-by crew from Farnworth was called to the Bolton and Blackburn border three times because people kept making emergency calls about the same fire. But by midnight they were able to help their colleagues fight the blaze.

Leading Farnworth firefighter Mick Dargan said: "It was an horrendous fire. Thankfully we don't have nights like that very often."