A major fire has severely damaged the Marc Darcy showroom on Bury New Road in Salford, Greater Manchester, with police now investigating the blaze as suspected arson.
Emergency services were called to the commercial property during the early hours of Thursday after a fire broke out in a caravan next to the building and spread to the showroom.
Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours as flames and thick black smoke engulfed the property.
Images from the scene showed extensive damage to the Marc Darcy premises, with part of the building collapsing during the fire. Several vehicles nearby were also damaged.
Greater Manchester Police are treating the incident as a suspected arson attack and have described it as a targeted incident.
Police said they do not believe there is an ongoing wider threat to the public.
No injuries were reported in connection with the fire.
The blaze caused significant disruption in the area, with part of Bury New Road closed while firefighters worked at the scene.
Residents nearby were advised to keep their doors and windows closed because of the heavy smoke and to avoid the area while emergency crews responded.
Investigators are appealing for witnesses and anyone who may have CCTV, dashcam, doorbell or mobile-phone footage from the area around the time of the fire.
Police are particularly interested in information from people who were in the area on Wednesday evening or the early hours of Thursday.
The fire has also affected Marc Darcy’s business operations. The company temporarily suspended new orders from its website because of the damage to its premises.
The incident remains under investigation as authorities work to establish exactly how the fire started and identify those responsible if arson is confirmed.
Further updates are expected as police continue their investigation and assess the full extent of the damage.
Quick Facts
Location: Bury New Road, Salford, Greater Manchester
Property: Marc Darcy showroom
Incident: Major commercial fire
Damage: Extensive damage to building and nearby vehicles
Suspected cause: Arson
Police assessment: Treated as a targeted incident
Injuries: None reported
Road impact: Bury New Road temporarily closed
Investigation: Greater Manchester Police
Status: Police investigation ongoing
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