FIRE officials are remaining tight-lipped over the possibility that the blaze at Greenalls distillery, which destroyed around £1m worth of alcohol, was arson.

A joint fire and police investigation has been launched after the biggest blaze to hit the town in more than 20 years took hold late Saturday afternoon.

More than two million litres of alcohol went up in flames and firefighters had to cope with bottles of alcohol constantly exploding.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire Service said it is unable to comment on the investigation until it is completed.

Crews from across the north west were called to the gin and vodka distillery on Loushers Lane at 4.30pm.

A 500 metre cordon was set up because of the scale of the blaze, and a 2,000ft air exclusion zone was also established.

Nearby residents were forced to leave their homes.

Fifty took shelter at the rest centre at Broomfields Leisure Centre on Saturday and 32 evacuees slept at the Daresbury Park Hotel on Sunday, paid for by Greenalls.

Others stayed with family and friends until they were allowed back into their homes late Sunday evening.

De Vere hotels, which owns the site, says it is hoping it will be 'business as usual' as soon as possible.

The company also paid tribute to the 110 firefighters who tackled the blaze.

Crews managed to save the stihouse where the alcohol goes through the distillation process.

As the warehouse and bottling section of the factory has been completely destroyed, the company is currently looking for a third party who can complete the process.

Most of the 109 people employed at the site are currently on standby at home until they can start work again.

Wilderspool Causeway, part of Loushers Lane, and the Stockton Heath swing bridge remained close for most of Sunday.

Morrisons supermarket reopened on Sunday morning but there was no car access to the store. Fire crews were still on the site on Wednesday morning.

They were providing fire cover while specialist contractors continue to decant ethanol from a tank on site, into road tankers to be transported away.

* Click here for exclusive photos of the blaze.