Industrial estate fire likely started by battery

Five crews helped tackle the fire at the industrial estate

A large fire at an industrial estate was likely started by a battery, but was so severe an exact cause could not be established, a fire service said.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to Finedon Road Industrial Estate in Wellingborough shortly before 12:30 BST on Thursday.

It said approximately 100 tonnes of recycling waste was on fire.

The blaze was extinguished at 20:30 and responsibility for the site has been handed back the owners, the service said.

At its height, five crews were tackling the fire and a water bowser was used.

The service said the fire "was believed to have started accidentally".

It said: "It is thought likely to be caused by a lithium-ion battery, but due to the severity of the fire damage it cannot be determined exactly what the cause of the initial ignition was."

The service added that "batteries that aren't disposed of correctly do pose a fire risk".