POLICE and prosecutors have decided to "take no further action" over the death of a Radcliffe firefighter killed by a shop blaze that was probably started on purpose.

Father-of-two Stephen Hunt, aged 38, died following injuries sustained tackling the huge fire at Paul's Hair World in Manchester's Northern Quarter in July 2013.

An inquest jury ruled in May the fire was probably deliberately started by two girls, both aged 15 at the time, who had been smoking cigarettes at the rear of the building.

Following the blaze three years ago, the teenagers – one a Bolton schoolgirl –were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

The Bolton girl was later charged with arson while being reckless as to whether life was endangered, which she had entered a not guilty plea.

However the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the charges just days before the Manchester Crown Court trial was due to begin, citing that accidental ignition could not be ruled out.

But in the wake of the inquest verdict of unlawful killing, senior coroner for Manchester Nigel Meadows reported the findings to the CPS to decide what action, if any, should be taken.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Following the findings from the coroner’s inquest, the Crown Prosecution Service and GMP reviewed the case and it has been determined that no further action will be taken."

Mr Hunt grew up in Whitefield, lived in New Road, Radcliffe, and worked as part of the crew at Philips Park Fire Station in Miles Platting, east Manchester.

A new residential road near his old fire station has been named in memory of the former soldier, who served in the Royal Corps of Signals and experienced a six-month tour in Bosnia.