Crews battle chemical factory blaze

The fire broke out at around 12.15pm on Monday when an explosion was reported to have taken place at Aztec Chemicals in Crewe, Cheshire.

A 200-metre exclusion zone was set up around the premises on the Gateway industrial park and was later doubled to 400 metres as the volume of smoke increased.

Cheshire Police said there were no reports of casualties and all employees at Aztec Chemicals had been evacuated and accounted for.

Seventeen fire engines are at the scene along with a command unit, a hazardous materials unit, a high volume pump, an aerial appliance and a foam tanker. A large plume of black smoke can be seen billowing from the scene of the blaze from miles away.

A spokeswoman for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "A total of 85 firefighters are at the scene. We are concentrating on cooling a number of gas cylinders close to the buildings and fighting the fire. The exclusion zone has been extended from 200 metres to 400 metres."

People nearby are being advised as a precaution to find shelter indoors and keep windows and doors closed, although there is no confirmation that the smoke contains any toxicity.

A Cheshire Police spokeswoman said: "All properties within the evacuation zone have been evacuated. These properties are industrial and business premises. They do not include residential properties or schools. The exclusion zone has been stepped up as a precaution due to the volume of smoke."

Motorists have been advised to avoid roads in the area and not to head towards Crewe town centre where possible, as congestion builds from the diversions in place.

The roads closed are the A5020 at the junction with the A500, the A534 at the Crewe Green roundabout - which carries traffic towards Crewe railway station -, Macon Way at the junction with Hungerford Road and Nantwich Road at the junction with Millfield Street.