Residents were evacuated from their homes after 70 pallets of foam went up in smoke in a suspected arson attack at a Black Country factory. Forty firefighters tacked the blaze last night in Dudley.

It broke out in the yard of Ram Foam, behind Floors-2-go, off Birmingham Road.

Fifteen families in Corporation Road and Highfield Road were ordered outside amid fears the fire could spread to their properties.

The intense heat caused windows to crack in some of the houses at the back of the factory and trees and shrubs in gardens were also burnt.

Birmingham Road was closed one way between the junctions with Burnt Tree island and the Dudley Southern Bypass for two hours as the blaze was brought under control.

The blaze sent 100ft high flames shooting into the air and plumes of thick black smoke could be seen from streets away.

Crew commander Roy Whitehead from Dudley Green Watch said: “It was a severe fire. My first thought when we arrived was that a factory was on fire because of the size of the flames and the amount of smoke.

“Instead we found there were about 70 pallets containing foam mats on fire.

“We believe it could be arson because the premises were all locked up at the time and there was some damage to a fence at the back of the yard suggesting someone had broken in.”

It started at 5.10pm.