THREE years have passed since a major fire broke out in Newton-le-Willows.
On May 20, 2020, during the first coronavirus lockdown, a fire engulfed a building and yard at Sankey Valley Industrial Estate in Earlestown, leading to a "major incident" being declared.
The blaze had ripped through a large quantity of plastic crates and a brick building, sending a huge cloud of smoke into the sky.
Smoke could be seen from around the region, with some reporting to have spotted it from Blackpool.
A large sum of 20 fire crews attended the scene to tackle the blaze.
The fire also occurred on one of the hottest days of the year as fire crews worked in "challenging heat conditions".
Local businesses accommodated emergency services, with the ‘major incident’ resulting in several road closures in the area.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here