FIREFIGHTERS were put on standby after a major petrol leak at a Bury service station.

The BP garage at Rochdale Road, Heap Bridge, was cordoned off for several hours earlier today as fuel poured from a petrol pump.

The leak happened after a petrol tanker overfilled an underground storage tank.

Station Officer Kevin Wilkinson from Bury fire station said: "We used a special sealant to stem the flow of the petrol. Sand was also used to soak up any fuel."

BP sent a special tanker to suck out excess fuel from the underground chamber.