Firefighters have worked throughout the night to bring a huge fire at a block of former student flats in Salford under control.
Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were called to the blaze at the Castle Irwell student flats, known locally as ‘The Pav’, at around 8.25pm on Sunday.
At its height more than 50 firefighters were at the scene of the two storey building using water pumped from the nearby River Irwell.
The operation was scaled down to three fire engines and between 15 to 20 firefighters overnight.
This morning the team said they were making “steady progress” to put the blaze out.
Watch: Video footage of the Salford fire
A statement from GMFRS said it is understood nobody was inside the building at the time and nobody has been injured.
Fire crews were called to the building after residents reported seeing smoke coming from a second floor window.
Within seconds a huge plume of smoke could be seen across Salford as the firefighters raced to the scene.
The first crew to arrive immediately called for more firefighters and 10 fire engines were at the scene in total.
A GMFRS spokesman said: “The building was well alight with seats of fire throughout the two-storey premises.
“A total of 10 fire engines were at the scene at the height of the fire, with more than 50 firefighters tackling the blaze.
“The team on site overnight has included specialist technical rescue firefighters and crew operating a hydraulic platform vehicle – similar to a ‘cherry picker’ – which enabled us to jet water into the building from above the roof.
“Crews have continued to battle throughout the night to get the fire surrounded.”
Nearby residents were reported to have heard a ‘loud pop’ shortly before the fire broke out.
The original 999 caller, who reported the fire, claimed to have witnessed a group of children setting the building alight.
Video footage recorded by neighbours shows the building alight and firefighters working to put the blaze out.
A statement from GMFRS said the cause of the fire not yet known at this stage.
The team, alongside Greater Manchester Police , will be launching an investigation later this morning.
Cromwell Road remains closed in both directions between Gerald Road and Lower Broughton Road while firefighters remain at the scene.
