Factory fire near M6 causes huge smoke plume

Firefighters have been tackling a blaze at a factory in Birmingham which left plumes of black smoke visible across the city.

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said more than 100 firefighters were sent to Hastingwood Industrial Park, near the Fort Dunlop retail park and M6, at the height of the incident.

A spokesperson for the fire service said the fire had been brought under control and its presence would be scaled down, although it expected to be there for a "considerable time".

The fire had been contained to a factory where sports equipment is produced, and everyone had been accounted for, it said.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said ambulance staff had supported fire colleagues at the scene and that one man was assessed and discharged.

Thirteen fire engines, three 4x4 brigade response vehicles and a hydraulic platform were deployed, according to the fire service.

The entire roof and first floor were affected by the blaze, WMFS said.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus worked to stop the fire spreading, and an emergency evacuation point was set up.

WMFS advised people to avoid the area and close doors and windows if affected by the smoke.

The fire did not affect the Fort Dunlop retail park, WMFS said

West Midlands Police supported the fire service with road closures.

Roads including Wood Lane, Wingfoot Way and the A47 Fort Parkway Eastbound were closed, according to traffic information firm Inrix.

There was also congestion on surrounding routes around Bromford and Tyburn.

Kimberley Edwards took this photo of smoke plumes behind the Fort Dunlop shopping park, just after the Next store was evacuated

Lulia Nicholas Ricardo, who lives near the industrial park, told the BBC: "When my son started showing me that there [was] smoke in the sky, I quickly ran to the window and there was very thick smoke, the whole sky was black.

"The smoke was very strong, it didn't stop and it was very thick, luckily it didn't enter the house.

"There were many police, many ambulances and many fire engines."

Ms Ricardo said she was scared and wasn't sure exactly where the fire was, but was concerned it would spread to the front of her street.

"I still hope for people there to be OK," she said.

The industrial park is next to the Esso Birmingham Terminal

The fire was near, but did not affect, the Esso Birmingham oil terminal.

A spokesman for ExxonMobil, which runs the plant, said operations had not been affected, and it had not been evacuated.