Inferno engulfs waste site

Around 45 firefighters from across the West Midlands were today battling a fire which ripped through up to 20 tons of household waste, forcing the closure of two roads.

Thick plumes of foul-smelling white smoke billowed up from the fire, which started at a landfill site in Oak Lane, Kingswinford, shortly after 8.15 last night - and officers fear it could continue to burn well into tonight and tomorrow morning.

Click on the images to the right to see more pictures.

Oak Lane and Ham Lane were both still closed today at the junctions with Stallings Lane.

Crews from Dudley and Brierley Hill were joined by engines from Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, Bilston and Northfield, along with an aerial pump and hydraulic platform from Ward End Fire Station.

Watch commander Mark Smith from Dudley, who was charge of the operation, said: "It was a very big fire, and unfortunately is what we call 'deep-seated' as it has spread a long way below the surface, which will make putting it out difficult.

"I will be very surprised if we are not still there at 8am tomorrow."

Diggers were today brought in to separate the rubbish and prevent it spreading