Smoke seen for miles as blaze breaks out on farm

Huge plumes of smoke can be seen for miles after a fire broke out at a chicken farm in Cheshire.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at The Grange on Checkley Lane, near Bridgemere, at about 06:20 BST, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

Ten fire engines have been sent to the scene and residents nearby have been urged to keep their doors and windows closed, "due to the large amount of smoke", a spokesperson said.

"Please avoid the area while the incident is being dealt with," they added, stating it had broken out in an empty chicken shed, which is about four acres in size, the equivalent of more than two football pitches.

The spokesperson confirmed crews were using "multiple hose reels and main jets" to tackle the blaze and prevent it from spreading further.

People living several miles away, including those in Betley and Madeley, as well as drivers on the M6, reported they could see the smoke billowing from the site.

Andrew Lewis, from Alsager, was on his way home from a night shift in Manchester when he spotted the smoke from the motorway.

"I saw this enormous smoke trail as I was coming down the M6 so I followed it and ended up at Betley Village Hall," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I'm just witnessing this huge, huge smoke cloud."

Lewis said he saw a lot of fire engines and police cars driving past, heading towards the scene.

"From the M6, it looked like an enormous, black, billowing storm cloud," he added.

"It wasn't affecting visibility and it was safe to travel, but it's quite windy today so [the smoke] is trailing quite quickly.

"It's literally enveloping the whole of the sky above me."

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