County: Greater Manchester Date opened: 1972 Phone +44 161 643 0911 | Operator: Moto Website: www.moto-way.com Road M62 motorway | |
 | ||
Address M62, Middleton, Heywood OL10 2RB, UK Similar Hartshead Moor services, Trowell services, Frankley services, Woolley Edge services, Pease Pottage services | ||
Armed robbery birch services
Birch Service station is a motorway service station located on the M62 motorway between Junction 18 (M60) and Junction 19 Heywood, close to Rochdale and Bury. There are two sides to the service station, the Eastbound services being quite old and the Westbound services being more modern. The services opened in 1972.
Contents
- Armed robbery birch services
- M62 just before birch services east bound
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Shops
- Fuel
- Other
- 2003 fire
- Rebuilding
- Location
- References
In September 1989 the services were the location for the murder of Inspector Raymond Codling of the Greater Manchester Police. There is a memorial on the westbound side.
M62 just before birch services east bound
Hotels
Restaurants
Shops
Fuel
Other
2003 fire
The westbound amenity building was destroyed in a massive fire on 9 October 2003. After losing large sums of cash in a slot machine, Jason New started kicking it to get his money back. He then went to the shop and bought a lighter, promptly setting fire to the machine. By 1am, the whole westbound side of the services were alight and evacuated. It took 70 fire-fighters four hours to bring the blaze under control.
Rebuilding
Whilst the site was being rebuilt, temporary facilities were provided. The petrol station, motel and eastbound services were not affected but were evacuated for safety reasons. The new services cater for 242 cars, 120 lorries and 30 coaches. When it was opened, Moto described the new building as being "the most modern on the motorway network".