A VEHICLE recovery business escaped ruin after a huge rescue operation was carried out by firefighters.

Four crews, involving more than 20 firefighters, tackled an early morning blaze at F.A.M Engineering in Holly Bank Street, Radcliffe.

The garage recovers vehicles for Greater Manchester Police and forensic investigators.

Seven cars and a number of motorbikes were damaged after the fire broke out at about 5.40am on Tuesday.

It is thought to have started in a car recovered from a road collision a few days earlier but arson has been ruled out.

Although the building was not damaged, the blaze spread to a second car and both were destroyed.

Four other cars and a number of bikes were damaged by smoke.

Watch Commander, Stuart Redshaw, said: “When we arrived the owners were organised and we made entry into the building easily.

“There was thick black smoke and a few minor explosions from the tyres, but we managed to contain it to a small fire.

“We have ruled out arson and we think it may have been a short circuit on the car inside the building.”

Firefighters from Whitefield were first on the scene, followed by crews from Bury and Farnworth and the fire investigation team.

They managed to put the fire out in 40 minutes but remained on the scene for more than four hours.

The business operates 24- hours, seven days a week, and carries out about 150 recoveries and rescues daily across Greater Manchester.

Managing director, Paul Charlton, praised the efforts of firefighters.

He said: “They were fantastic so fortunately we contained it and are now trying to get back to normal.

“Our emergency procedure kicked in within five minutes and the fire brigade were here within seven.”

Mr Charlton also said CCTV shows there were no break-ins overnight. Staff now face a seven-day operation to clear up the damage.