VIDEO and PICTURES: Over 60 firefighters tackle huge blaze at Wolverhampton factory

Flames took hold of a car repair garage on Hickman Avenue this afternoon.

One person was injured who had tried to tackle the flames himself, fire service bosses said.

The casualty, a 38-year-old man who has suffered one per cent burns to his left leg. Firefighters are currently giving him first aid at the scene.

The cause of the fire was accidental.

It was started by a petrol angle grinder in one of the car repair units which was used for cutting chassis of cars. A spark ignited and the fire spread.

West Midlands Fire Service were alerted to the blaze around 2.30pm. They received a number of calls as plumes of black smoke were visible from a considerable distance away.

Residents in the nearby area were advised to shut their windows and doors for health reasons.

At one stage there were 12 pumping appliances and two hydraulic platforms in use to combat the flames.

The building is a three-storey brick-built structure measuring 50 metres by 60 metres.

Firefighters tackled the fire from three different areas.

Gas settling cylinders were on site but were not involved in the fire.

Speaking earlier today West Midlands Fire Service spokesman Matt Bettany said: "We have just increased our resources to 12 pumping appliances. An assistance message has just come through.

"It is a large factory fire used as a car repair garage.

"There are settling cylinders in the building but they are not involved in the fire.

"Firefighters are tackling it in three sectors.

"People in the surrounding area have been told to close their windows and doors for health reasons."