Explosions heard as Bramley factory fire sends smoke plume over Leeds

A large blaze at a manufacturer of fibreglass moulds in Leeds which sent a plume of black smoke over the city has been extinguished.

At its height, about 35 firefighters tackled the blaze at Moulds, Patterns and Models on Swinnow Lane in Bramley, West Yorkshire Fire Service said.

A total of 12 employee-owned vehicles were destroyed in the blaze on Monday morning, a spokesperson said.

The fire had been "comprehensively extinguished", they added.

The fire in Bramley sent a large plume of black smoke over Leeds

After the fire broke out, people nearby reported hearing several explosions and Stanningley Bypass had to be closed for a time while firefighters tackled the blaze.

Alan Holdsworth, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service assistant district commander for the Bradford district, said it had been "quite a severe fire".

However, he added: "We hit it very early and very hard and extinguished it very quickly."

Fire crews and ambulances were sent to the scene, with people told to avoid the area

Everyone on the premises was evacuated and no-one was injured, Mr Holdsworth said.

An investigation into what caused the blaze was now under way, he added.

The A647, which runs near the site of the fire, has since been reopened.

Eight fire engines were sent to Swinnow Lane in the west of Leeds on Monday morning