Man rescued from waste fire at industrial yard

Smoke from the fire could be seen from across the city

A man has been rescued by firefighters after a fire at a building yard which led to reports of explosions and plumes of smoke.

West Midlands Fire Service said 45 firefighters were sent to the blaze on Lower Tower Street in Aston after the fire broke out at 15:20 BST on Sunday.

Multiple cylinders were exploding at the site, the fire service said, and witnesses reported seeing a truck “engulfed in flames”.

The fire involved piles of rubbish, which were broken up in order to be extinguished, with crews damping down at the scene until about 22:25 BST.

The fire broke out in Aston on Sunday afternoon, with 45 firefighters sent to tackle it.

A drone was used to make sure no-one else was trapped in the fire, which was in an industrial building yard between two commercial premises.

Residents had been urged to keep their windows and doors closed.

People on social media said smoke was seen "filling the skies" in Birmingham with the plumes visible from miles around.

The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, with crews revisiting the site during the early hours of Monday to check the blaze was out.