Huge Lancaster fire burning for weeks finally put out

Outbuildings were demolished and waste removed as crews tackled the blaze

A huge fire which has been burning through thousands of tonnes of waste at a former skip hire site has finally been put out after almost three weeks.

The blaze broke out at the premises on Port Royal Avenue in Lancaster on 3 December.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire, which had taken hold in the compact waste stored at the site, "appears to be extinguished".

The area will continue to be monitored, the service added.

There had been concerns that the fire could burn for months with out help from the government due to the 13,000 tonnes of waste stored there.

Thousands of tonnes of compacted waste is stored at the former SkupaSkips site

Earlier this month Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had promised to arrange an urgent meeting after MP Cat Smith said Lancaster County Council had spent £262,000 tackling the blaze.

Local officials later agreed fund further emergency works of up to £650,000 to put out the fire at the former SupaSkips site.

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