A FIRE broke out at a popular chip shop and cafe in Farnworth.

AJ's Cafe, in Albert Road, caught fire at about 4.20pm today and fire crews based at nearby Farnworth Fire Station were called to the scene.

The shop is understood to have been closed for the bank holiday.

Jessica Keating-Millington, aged 21, of Farnworth, passed the scene just after the fire broke out.

She said: “There was lots of smoke coming out of the building. The fire looked quite bad.

“There were three fire engines there.”

A fire spokesperson said: "The positioning of the building is making it hard for the fire crew.

"We have increased the response to seven fire engines so there are now 35 fire fighters on the scene.

"They are using a combination of breathing apparatus, jets and the high pressure lance.

"They are also using an ariel appliance to tackle the fire from above.

"They have got water coming in from all angles.

"There is lots of smoke in the area so we would advice people to stay away and for residents in the area to shut their windows.

"It is white smoke which is better than black smoke and it is white smoke just because of the amount of water we have on it.

"No one was in the building and it is believed to have been closed at the time the fire started.

"There are no reported injuries.

"When they arrived the whole building was on fire.

"We won't know how it started until the fire has been put out and officers have been able to get inside to investigate.

"We are liasing with the police and the local council to get the area cordoned off."