Waste blaze still burning after a week

The shed contains an estimated 60 to 80 tonnes of household waste

A fire at a waste processing plant has been burning for more than a week, with firefighters unable to fully extinguish it due to safety concerns.

The blaze broke out inside a large storage shed at Lean Quarry, near Liskeard, Cornwall, containing an estimated 60 to 80 tonnes of household waste stacked up to 66ft (20m) high.

The structure has since been declared unsafe by engineers, preventing crews from entering.

"We can't commit personnel under that structure until it's made safe, we're now in a controlled burn phase to reduce the fuel load," incident manager Scott Brown told BBC Radio Cornwall.

'Safety has to come first'

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has urged residents to keep windows closed due to the ongoing smoke.

Air quality is being monitored every 12 hours in co-ordination with the Met Office, Environment Agency, and UK Health Security Agency, said Mr Brown.

He confirmed that hazardous materials were removed early in the operation, but the remaining waste, mostly black bag household rubbish, continues to burn.

"I live locally myself, so I completely understand the community's concerns," he said.

"But safety has to come first."

The next step involves bringing in a demolition team to dismantle the unstable shed.

Only then will firefighters be able to access the waste pile directly and begin breaking it down.

"We're meeting daily with the site contractor to push this forward," Mr Brown added.

Residents, particularly those with respiratory conditions, are advised to stay indoors and contact their GP or NHS 111 if they experience symptoms.