Firefighters tackle huge blaze at West Midlands paper mill

The seven-acre Smurfit-Kappa site, containing 10,000 tons of recycled cardboard, has gone up in flames and residents living nearby were today being told to keep their windows closed.

The blaze started in an outside storage area of the factory.

Crews arrived at the scene, in Mount Street, Birmingham, shortly after 10pm last night. It is believed a member of staff raised the alarm and nobody has been injured.

The site is less than half a mile from junction eight of the M6.

Fire investigators along with officers from West Midlands Police were today examining CCTV footage from the site and some firefighters remained on site today.

High winds had hampered firefighters tackling the blaze at the firm, which recycles cardboard for Birmingham City Council.

Fire officials were warning residents in immediate area to close their windows due to the smoke plume which is heading in the direction of Erdington. It is not thought to be high risk. The

M6 motorway hasn't been affected by the fire with a fire service spokesman confirming smoke wouldn't create visibility issues for drivers.

Mal Fellows, spokesman, said: "We've had over 100 crew members tackling this fire from last night and more than 20 rescue pumps in attendance. We have it under control."

He added that there was seven acres of cardboard on fire which is around 10,000 tons worth. "It is lucky that it is cardboard so the fire is a 'clean burn' had it been plastics or tyres then this could have impacted further on residents in the area.

"At the moment the advice is for local residents to close their windows. We are aware of the relatively close proximity of the M6 but the smoke is clear."

Fire investigators and police officers are currently looking at CCTV?footage from the site to find out how the fire started.