Emergency services attended a "massive" blaze at a commercial building in Hyde just after 9:30pm last night (January 22), with crews still on the scene today.

The fire broke out at the offices of Visual Architects on Meadow Street and Stockport Road. Crews wore breathing apparatus and worked through the night to extinguish the fire, including helping to evacuate nearby properties.

Residents living nearby described the area as being engulfed by the stench of burning wood and a chemical smell and many described a "banging sound" which they likened to an explosion.

Local resident Christine Gibson said: "The police said there was asbestos which was what the explosion sound was. It was really frightening, I think everyone was quite shaken.

"The smoke was just horrendous and I could see the flames from the back bedroom window but it was a relief that the wind was just going in one direction so it wasn't swirling and didn't spread any more.

"We've lived here for five years and you just never imagine something like that happening but the police and fire brigade were brilliant."

Multiple residents have raised concerns over the asbestos roofing, saying that they had been advised to close doors and windows due to this.

Stockport Road resident Tommy Page added: "I heard a load of banging. I thought it was fireworks going off at first and then my neighbour messaged me about what was going on so I went out to have a look straight away.

"The whole place was ablaze, it was quite scary really. The heat was intense too, it was crazy. There were lots of the neighbours out of the street looking at what was going on."

In an update issued earlier today, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said the response had been "scaled back". Road closures remain in place on Lumb Lane, Meadow Street and Stockport Road.