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Crews tackle fire at waste recycling site building

Thick black and grey smoke was filmed billowing from the site

A huge fire has broken out at a waste company's building on an industrial site in Cambridgeshire.

Crews were called to Biffa's waste management transfer station in St Neots at 10:52 BST.

The fire service spokesperson said more than 25 firefighters, including crews from Bedfordshire would be "at this incident for a prolonged period of time".

Video footage posted on social media showed a huge plume of smoke coming from the building, on Marston Road in Eynesbury, with drone shots showing a dilapidated unit.

News imageDrone Photos Sandy An aerial view of an industrial site. In the middle is a green metal building which is on fire. A large cloud of grey thick smoke is coming from the building. There are several cars around the site.Drone Photos Sandy
Biffa confirmed the blaze was at its site in Eynesbury - between Cromwell Road and the London-Edinburgh railway line

A Biffa spokesperson said: "We can confirm all employees were quickly and safely evacuated after a fire broke out at our waste transfer station in St Neots this morning.

"No injuries have been reported."

People were asked to stay away from the area and to close their windows and doors.

News imageHayley Curtis A green metal building is on fire. Large flames and thick black and grey smoke are coming from the building. There are several trees around it.Hayley Curtis

The East Coast Main Line runs alongside the industrial estate.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We were made aware of a fire near the railway at St Neots at 11:22 and sent response teams to support the emergency services and assess any risk to the rail network.

"The incident has been monitored closely, but there was no impact on the safe running of trains. Our teams have now stood down, although we continue to monitor the situation."

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News imageNaomi Pickett In the foreground is an arable field. In the distance, there is a large cloud of thick grey smoke rising into the blue, cloudless sky.Naomi Pickett
Smoke could be seen billowing from the fire

At the scene, BBC reporter Shariqua Ahmed, said she could see plumes of smoke from about five miles (8km) away as she drove towards St Neots.

"The air is thick with smoke and there is a lot of ash," she said.

"I can see at least five fire engines and I believe there are more at the other end of the area where I am.

"There are thick clouds of smoke and you can smell the burning material in the air.

"Nearby residents have told me there were embers landing in a dry field close to the site and they were very concerned because everything is so dry."

News imageLee Curtis A green metal building is on fire. Large flames and thick grey smoke are coming from the building. There are several trees and bushes in the foreground.Lee Curtis

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