A LARGE explosion sent emergency services rushing to Stretford on Saturday afternoon.

The explosion was heard in streets surrounding Selby Road, where an eye witness said four police vehicles, two fire engines and an ambulance attended.

The eye witness told the Messenger: "It sounded like a bomb going off and residents rang the emergency services to say there had been a large explosion on Selby Road.

"However, it turned out to be a commercial type firework that you would get at a firework display."

GMP Sale tweeted: "We received reports of a loud noise at about 1.30pm on the Selby Road junction with Barton Road. We investigated the area and it was a firework."

GMP was unable to confirm reports close to the scene of the blast that a person was subsequently arrested for allegedly running a cannabis farm from a house on Selby Road.