THOUSANDS of pounds worth of food and alcohol has been destroyed after flames swept through a Bury store.

Firefighters believe the blaze may have been smouldering for more than four hours before it breached the ceiling of the Co-op Late Shop in Parkhills Road on Wednesday morning.

A passing police patrol raised the alarm at 4.45am after seeing smoke pouring from two ventilation shafts.

Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus had to smash their way through security shutters to gain entry into the shop filled with thick toxic fumes. Flames engulfed the rear of the store and the ceiling above.

An electrical short circuit on a refrigeration unit is believed to have started the blaze.

Station Officer John Leonard said his team quickly brought the fire under control but difficulties arose in reaching flames between the roof joists and walls.

He said: "The way the timber joists have burned and its containment towards the rear of the shop suggest that the short circuit happened before midnight and the refrigeration unit and adjacent wall smouldered for hours. A lack of oxygen helped keep the fire contained."

The shop is expected to remain closed for the next month. The fire and smoke damaged stock has been declared unfit for sale.

A spokesman for the Co-op said: "The store will be fully refurbished."

Norweb customers are advised the nearest Power Card outlet is now at Angouleme Way Service Station, Bury.