Industrial estate hit by blaze

Hundreds of litres of oil erupted in flames at an industrial estate near Cannock engulfing surrounding areas in thick black smoke.

The inferno happened at the Sprint Industrial Estate in Four Ashes yesterday afternoon as workers were attempting to dismantle an old oil tank.

It is believe the tank had lain unused for a number of years and workers were attempting to cut it using an oxyacetylene burner which sparked the fire.

Firefighters from across South Staffordshire were alerted to the blaze at around 2pm yesterday and battled for more than 45 minutes to extinguish it. Crews from Penkridge and Brewood fought the flames with the help of a foam tender and water carrier from Cannock and the aerial platform unit from Stafford.

A neighbouring tank and a nearby building were also at risk from fire but did not ignite. Ian Dawson, assistant area commander for South Staffordshire, said the fire had the potential to be a lot worse.

Katie Dale, from Acumen Waste, spotted the smoke as she walked nearby. She said: "It was thick black and it came across the road and you couldn't see through it."