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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Blaze that gutted church in Lower Broughton 'suspicious' | Blaze that gutted church in Lower Broughton 'suspicious' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A huge fire that destroyed a Grade II-listed church may have been started deliberately. | A huge fire that destroyed a Grade II-listed church may have been started deliberately. |
| The fire at the Church of the Ascension in Lower Broughton began at about 23:00 GMT on Sunday. | The fire at the Church of the Ascension in Lower Broughton began at about 23:00 GMT on Sunday. |
| Greater Manchester Police confirmed it was now treating the blaze as suspicious. | Greater Manchester Police confirmed it was now treating the blaze as suspicious. |
| Firefighters confirmed the top part of the two gable ends of the building, founded in 1869, will be dismantled on Tuesday to make it safe. | Firefighters confirmed the top part of the two gable ends of the building, founded in 1869, will be dismantled on Tuesday to make it safe. |
| Police believe the church was broken into before it was set alight and have released CCTV footage of a suspect fleeing the scene. | |
| Nearby residents were urged to keep their windows and doors shut while the blaze, which has since been brought under control, was at its height. | Nearby residents were urged to keep their windows and doors shut while the blaze, which has since been brought under control, was at its height. |
| Fire investigators believe the blaze caused gas pipes inside the church to melt, before a gas leak ignited, causing further damage. | Fire investigators believe the blaze caused gas pipes inside the church to melt, before a gas leak ignited, causing further damage. |
| Fire station manager Dave Baxter said: "We've got a gas leak that has ignited inside the church. National Grid are here trying to isolate the gas externally from the property, It's a big old solid structure. | Fire station manager Dave Baxter said: "We've got a gas leak that has ignited inside the church. National Grid are here trying to isolate the gas externally from the property, It's a big old solid structure. |
| "We're putting water up from the outside in and we've got a hydraulic platform so we can assess the scene inside." | "We're putting water up from the outside in and we've got a hydraulic platform so we can assess the scene inside." |
| Liam Cole, 17, saw the flames from his home nearby. | Liam Cole, 17, saw the flames from his home nearby. |
| "Initially it wasn't that bad but all of a sudden it was engulfed in flames and the roof started falling through," he said. | "Initially it wasn't that bad but all of a sudden it was engulfed in flames and the roof started falling through," he said. |
| "There was a lot of ash and smoke from the roof going on the people standing very close." | "There was a lot of ash and smoke from the roof going on the people standing very close." |