'Do not travel' order in place as Manchester fire wreaks travel chaos (2025)

4 hours ago22:52 Brian Dillon

4 hours ago22:50 Brian Dillon

4 hours ago22:42 Brian Dillon

The building has been completely gutted as a result of the fire. (Image: Jack Fifield / SWNS)

4 hours ago22:28 Brian Dillon

4 hours ago22:26 Brian Dillon

4 hours ago22:22 Brian Dillon

5 hours ago21:45 Brian Dillon

5 hours ago21:18 Brian Dillon

Huge clouds of smoke remain as a result of the fire. (Image: Jack Fifield / SWNS)

6 hours ago20:55 Brian Dillon

6 hours ago20:36 Brian Dillon

6 hours ago20:15 Eleanor Burleigh

20 fire engines are at the scene tackling the blaze (Image: Matt Edwards)

Passersby were warned to keep their mouths closed amid falling ash (Image: Matt Edwards)

7 hours ago19:47 Eleanor Burleigh

Passengers on Northern Assist train routes have been urged not to travel on several routes affected by the fire in central Manchester.

A spokesperson said: "Due to the nature of this disruption, customers are now advised DO NOT TRAVEL on the following routes."

Services will not run and alternative transport will not be provided for the following routes:

Blackpool North to Manchester Airport Barrow/Windermere to Manchester Airport Windermere to Oxenholme Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Oxford Road Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport Southport to Manchester Oxford Road

7 hours ago19:11 Eleanor Burleigh

The fire and rescue service has issued a new statement on the fire continuing to rage at a derelict building in the city centre.

A spokesperson said: “Crews are working hard to tackle the fire at the Hotspur Press building. 20 fire engines from stations across Greater Manchester are at the scene, where three floors of the building are alight. Multiple jets and the air unit are in use to prevent the spread of the fire.

“All floors of the two apartment blocks at 1 Cambridge Street have been evacuated.”

8 hours ago18:36 Eleanor Burleigh

8 hours ago18:18 Eleanor Burleigh

The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that people in apartment buildings close to the Hotspur Press building in the city centre are being evacuated as the emergency response to the incident continues.

A spokesperson said:

“Firefighters are currently tackling a large fire at the derelict Hotspur Press building on Cambridge Street in Manchester.

“An evacuation of the neighbouring apartment buildings is taking place. The public are advised to stay away from the area while crews continue to tackle the fire.”

8 hours ago18:14 Chris Riches

The Manchester inferno is tearing through a 223 year-old Victorian mill which the Daily Express exclusively revealed last November had been at the centre of a regeneration row.

Scores of jobs, shops, a piazza and 595 student rooms were set to breathe new life into the city centre area with plans to redevelop the iconic former Victorian printing mill, The Hotspur Press.

Originally built in 1801 on the banks of the River Medlock, it started life as a cotton mill before becoming a printing press in 1888, and more recently an artists' community until finally boarded up for good in 2017.

Developer Manner won council planning permission last year and hoped to complete the transformation by 2028, fearing the building could be "condemned" if work on the derelict mill does not start soon.

Restoration of the 18th century mill façade and the preservation of the iconic Percy Brothers signage – a local landmark - was also included.

But Historic England acted on one anonymous protestor to the plans, who wanted the building listed, prompting the quango-like non-departmental public body to send a report to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy so her Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) can make a decision on the development's fate.

In April this year Manner survived the listed-building attempt and then submitted a request to alter the plans, to make the tower a more “contemporary aesthetic” with a bronze finish to the exterior instead of red brick.

Now those dreams for the building could literally be up in smoke depending on the damage the fire does to the structure and the site.

According to their own 2021 report, Historic England say the vacant space from northern England derelict mills is 2.3 million square metres - enough space to accommodate 42,000 new homes or provide 84,000 new jobs.

9 hours ago18:02 Eleanor Burleigh

Smoke could be seen billowing across the train tracks (Image: )

Emergency services have not yet issued a statement on the incident (Image: )

9 hours ago18:00 Eleanor Burleigh

9 hours ago17:51 Eleanor Burleigh

Multiple major roads in central Manchester have been closed due to a huge fire breaking out in a derelict building near the Oxford Road train station.

The A34 Oxford Street has been closed in both directions alongside Whitworth Street in both directions between A5103 Albion Street and A34 Oxford Street, according to the Manchester Evening News.

9 hours ago17:47 Eleanor Burleigh

The following routes are being affected by the fire near Oxford Road Station in Manchester:

- Manchester Airport-Glasgow Central/Edinburgh in both directions

- Liverpool Lime Street-Cleethorpes in both directions

- Manchester Airport-Redcar Central in both directions

Rail replacement buses have been requested by the Transpennine Express for Manchester Piccadilly-Liverpool Lime Street in both directions and Manchester Piccadilly-Preston in both directions.

9 hours ago17:43 Eleanor Burleigh

The Transpennine Express has warned that services running through the station could be cancelled or delayed until at least 9pm as a fire continues to blaze near the tracks.

"Due to a fire next to the track at Manchester Oxford Road, all lines are blocked and the station has been evacuated," the trainline said.

"Trains are currently unable to run through Manchester Oxford Road in both directions. Emergency services are aware of the issue and are sending a team to site."

9 hours ago17:38 Eleanor Burleigh

People are being evacuated from nearby buildings, including a block of flats opposite the site where the fire broke out, according to online reports.

Photos and videos from the scene show multiple fire engines at the scene. Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has not yet responded to a request for comment on the cause of the blaze.

9 hours ago17:34 Eleanor Burleigh

Train passengers passing through Oxford Road Station caught a glimpse of the fire raging in a nearby building this evening.

One passenger shared a video of shocked travellers watching the flames leap up outside their window on X.

9 hours ago17:29 Eleanor Burleigh

All lines are blocked at Oxford Road Station due to a fire that has broken out in a nearby building.

National Rail said services running through the station may be delayed or cancelled, with disruption expected to continue throughout the evening.

9 hours ago17:25 Eleanor Burleigh

9 hours ago17:23 Eleanor Burleigh

Footage shared on social media shows huge clouds of black smoke billowing up near the train station.

Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are reportedly at the scene with road closures in place.

9 hours ago17:16 Eleanor Burleigh

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of a fire that has broken out near Oxford Road Station in Manchester this afternoon.

Keep an eye on this blog for updates as we get them.