Hotpoint Fire In Peterborough: Firefighters Battle Large Blaze At Factory

Pictures of plumes of smoke filling the sky appear on social media.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue

A raging fire has torn through lorry trailers at a washing machine factory in Peterborough, sending large clouds of thick black smoke over the city.

Around 50 firefighters are working to bring the blaze under control at the Hotpoint site in Shrewsbury Avenue, with up to 40 trailers affected.

Witnesses on social media reported hearing explosions as billowing torrents of dark smoke were visible for miles across the city.

Thick black smoke over Peterborough as firefighters battle a large fire at a Hotpoint factory.
Thick black smoke over Peterborough as firefighters battle a large fire at a Hotpoint factory.
PA
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service handout photo of containers on fire as firefighters battle a large fire at a Hotpoint factory in the Woodston area of Peterborough.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service handout photo of containers on fire as firefighters battle a large fire at a Hotpoint factory in the Woodston area of Peterborough.
PA

There are not believed to be any casualties and residents were warned to keep their doors and windows closed, emergency services said.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service posted images showing around eight trailers completely gutted by fire at around 9pm, around two hours after they were called to the incident.

Peterborough police asked people to stay clear of the area and said temporary road closures were in place in Shrewsbury Avenue, Morley Way and Celta Road.

They added: “It is expected emergency services will be working late into the night to tackle the blaze.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Follow HuffPost UK on Twitter here, and on Facebook here.

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