Forty firefighters were called to a Black Country paint plant after reports of a fire in an extractor system.

Six engines from Tipton, West Bromwich, Walsall, Dudley and Fallings Park, were called to Huf UK factory on the Black Country New Road in Tipton to deal with the fire on the first floor of the two-storey building. Staff had to be evacuated.

Group commander Andy Grosvenor said it was an accidental fire caused while work was being done on part of the ducting system which extracts fumes.

He said: “Smoke was not billowing but there were large volumes so we knew it was something significant. The fire was inside the ducting system which made access difficult. Crews used thermal imaging cameras to locate it.

“The sprinkler system was de-activated which helped to suppress the fire and prevent it spreading.

“Firefighters quickly brought the incident under control and did a fantastic job.”

A Huf UK manager declined to comment.