Scrapyard hit by big blaze

Firefighters battled a blaze which swept thorugh a Staffordshire scrapyard and burned throughout the night.

Crews were called to WW Commercial Ltd on Barracks Lane, Springhill, near Stonnall, at 8.40pm last night. The fire was still alight today, with firefighters expecting to be at the scrapyard for most of the day.

Due to the scale of the fire, which destroyed cars and lorries, firefighters called for a specialist water carrier from Leek, in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

The fire affected a large area of the yard with firefighters and their relief crews fighting the flames. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and an investigation will be carried out once the fire is out.

Heather Garner, spokesman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The incident involved large quantities of industrial and mechanical waste.

"Crews are being assisted by a mechanical grabber which is turning over the smouldering material allowing firefighters to put out hot spots. They are expected to remain at the incident throughout the day."