More than 25 firefighters tackle major blaze at St Neots waste facility

More than 25 firefighters are tackling a large fire at the Biffa waste transfer and recycling facility on Marston Road in St Neots.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service says crews were called to reports of a building fire at 10.52am on Tuesday.

Firefighters from across Cambridgeshire, along with crews from neighbouring Bedfordshire, have been sent to the scene.

The fire service has described the incident as a large, well-developed fire inside a building involving recycled materials, and has warned that crews are expected to remain at the scene for a prolonged period.

(Image: Drone Photos Sandy)

The site involved is the Biffa commercial waste facility and NOT the St Neots Household Recycling Centre.

Images from the scene show an industrial unit extensively damaged by the blaze, with parts of the building appearing to have been completely engulfed.

Large amounts of thick black smoke have been rising from the site, creating a plume visible across St Neots and reported from as far away as Biggleswade.

(Image: Drone Photos Sandy)

People living close to the facility have also reported a strong smell of burning plastic, while a number of residents have reported hearing explosions during the incident.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is advising anyone affected by the smoke to close their windows and doors.

People are also being urged to stay away from the area to allow firefighters and other emergency services clear access to the scene.

The cause of the blaze has not yet been confirmed.

(Image: Cambs Fire & Rescue)

The incident comes amid several significant fires in the last 24 hours involving waste and industrial sites in the region. Firefighters tackled a blaze yesterday involving around 500 tonnes of recycling material in Corby, while today around 100 tonnes of recycling material has also been burning in Milton Keynes and an industrial fire in St Albans, where there are concerns about the risk of explosions, has led to the temporary closure of part of the M25.