FIREFIGHTERS from across the north west were called to tackle the distillery blaze.

Crews from as far afield as north Bolton and Wallasey attended as it was the largest fire seen in Cheshire for many years.

At its height, 25 pumps and three aerial appliances were trying to extinguish the flames.

To help maintain the water supply while firefighters tackled the blaze, a high-volume pumping unit from Greater Manchester fire and rescue service was also called to the scene.

Due to the high amount of alcohol at the scene, and because the roof of the warehouse had collapsed, firefighters had to tackle the blaze from outside the building for their own protection.

Because the alcohol was continually exploding, firefighters were constantly facing different fires.

John Reynolds, the head of fire protection for Cheshire Fire Service said: "We had to be extremely careful because of the presence of alcohol in the fire."

Crews also had to use constant cooling jets to keep a number of storage vessels filled with alcohol cool so they did not catch fire.

As a result, it stopped the blaze from destroying more of the business.

During the incident, emergency cover was maintained across the rest of Cheshire with the help of neighbouring fire and rescue services.

Cheshire Fire Service remained at the scene on Wednesday to assist while specialist contractors continued to decant ethanol from a tank on site, into road tankers to be transported away.

One fireman was slightly hurt while the blaze took place.

* Click here for exclusive photos of the blaze.