Landmark boozer hit by arsonist
A DISUSED pub was torched by an arsonist days after the last pints were pulled.
Firefighters worked overnight to put out the blaze at the Sam Platts pub, on Trafford Wharf Road, in Trafford.
The fire service were called to the scene at 1.37am yesterday – the day after it was taken over by transport bosses to be demolished to make way for the Trafford Park line.
They said the first floor and the roof of the building were engulfed by flames.
Fire crews used jets, hose reels and an aerial platform to bring the fire under control.
The incident was scaled down at 5.30am, but a number of crews and firefighters remained at the scene until late morning to extinguish pockets of fire.
A statement from Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “Six fire engines attended reports of a building well alight and on the arrival of the first crews, they discovered it was a disused pub.
“The first floor and roof of the building, measuring 20m by 30m, was well alight. Firefighters tackled the fire with jets and hose reels and an aerial platform was used to assist.” According to a post on the Sam Platts Facebook page, the pub served its last pints on Sunday, June 4. Ownership of the pub was passed on to Transport for Greater Manchester the day before the blaze and it was due to be demolished to make way for a new Metrolink line. A statement from TfGM said: “As part of the development of the Trafford Park line, ownership of Sam Platt’s pub and surrounding land was handed to us on Wednesday, June 7. “We are working with the police and fire service as part of their investigation and as such it would not be appropriate to comment further.” Greater Manchester Police said they are treating the incident as arson and officers will be working in connection with the fire service. No arrests have been made at this stage and enquiries continue. Any witnesses or anyone with further information about the blaze at the pub can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.