FIREFIGHTERS used a new state-of-the-art piece of equipment to help stop an industrial building from being destroyed.

Crews from Leigh and Atherton were called to a blaze at the Nangreaves Industrial Estate in Nangreaves Street, Leigh at 1.50am.

When they arrived, flames in one of the commercial buildings were reaching the ceiling of the property.

The crews used a new piece of equipment called the ultra high pressure lance, which burrowed through the outside of the building and sprayed water inside to reduce the flames before they could gain access.

Greater Manchester fire crews are the first in the country to use with the new lance, which was designed in Sweden.

They then used normal hoses to put out the blaze and limited the damage to the building to about 30 per cent.

The exact cause of the fire is not yet known and police and fire investigation units are still on the site, carrying out analysis.