Fire crews remain at scene of Mansfield warehouse blaze

The fire broke out on Saturday afternoon

Firefighters remain at the scene of a warehouse blaze in Mansfield.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to Savanna Rags clothes warehouse in Forest Road shortly before 15:45 GMT on Saturday.

A number of residents were unable to return home until Sunday afternoon due to the fire and roads surrounding the area remain closed.

The fire service said seven crews remained at the scene to continue to fight the blaze.

An evacuation centre was opened at Oak Tree Leisure Centre in the town for residents waiting to be allowed home.

Forest Road and Sandhurst Avenue remain closed while Nottingham Road has been opened in one direction heading southbound.

Significant damage was caused to the warehouse

More than 100 firefighters from 16 crews have been involved in the operation, with a number of residents still unable to return to their properties.

Surrounding areas had suffered power outages, but supply has since been restored.

Ch Insp Amy Styles-Jones, from Nottinghamshire Police, said there were no reports of any injuries but that neighbouring streets had been evacuated as a precaution.

Steve Plant, 61, is still unable to return to his home next to the factory

Steve Plant, 61, was evacuated from his home on Forest Road, which is the closest property to the factory.

He is still unable to go back to the house and says his windows have been scorched by the heat of the fire.

"It was quite frightening," he said.

"It started a distance off, it was more smoke than flames, but obviously within an hour it got a lot closer and it was really intense.

"I think looking at what the firefighters did and the police, they did an amazing job to protect everybody else's property. I'm proud of them."

Harry Pye, 86, heard an explosion while reading in his conservatory

Harry Pye, 86, who lives on Alexandra Avenue, said he saw an "unbelievable large" plume of smoke billow into the sky after hearing an explosion.

He said: "We were sitting in our conservatory reading and I was facing this way and the explosion went up and immediately an enormous black cloud of smoke came straight up.

"I just hoped that it wasn't a house. I was really worried that something serious had happened and that people had been injured."

Savanna Rags said it had suspended its operations following the fire

Savanna Rags, a company that processes and exports recycled clothing, has confirmed the fire took place at its premises.

A spokesperson for the company said: "It is with deep regret and sadness that we must inform you that a fire broke out at our warehouse.

"Due to this we are ceasing our operations with immediate effect. We will advise any further updates when new information becomes available."

The smoke could be seen from across the town