Residents urged to stay indoors after waste centre fire causes 'huge' black cloud

Firefighters are expected to continue tackling a recycling centre fire over the coming days after homes were covered by a "huge" black cloud.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to reports of the blaze – involving about 200 tonnes of commercial waste – at AWD Group on Dock Road, Port Talbot, on Wednesday afternoon.

Flames and plumes of heavy smoke could be seen in footage posted on social media, with smoke still over homes on Thursday.

The fire, the cause of which is unknown, has now been downgraded from a major incident, with crews "satisfied the fire is not going to spread any further", the council said.

Nearby schools remain open, but some roads have been closed, and Neath Port Talbot council has urged people and businesses to keep their windows and doors shut until "the smoke passes".

Richie Felton, from the fire service, said it expects to remain at the site "throughout the weekend, as we continue the operation to extinguish the fire".

He said crews had dealt with a "developing wind-driven fire" on Wednesday.

"We were met by a large plume of black smoke issuing from the plastic piles at the rear of the recycling centre," he said.

On Thursday the fire was far from out, with smoke drifting heavily towards houses nearby.

Ex-Neath Port Talbot mayor Tony Taylor BBC Radio Wales Breakfast a "huge cloud" of black smoke could be seen over his back garden about two hours after the fire was reported.

"It was dreadful. It just covered the whole town.

"It felt like it was going to rain. That's how dark it went", he added.

Local people told the BBC it was hard to keep the smoke out, even with the windows and doors closed, while some said there was a plastic taste in the air. One house had towels in the letter box.

Another resident said they had closed every vent and were scared for their children and pets.

The AWD Group could not be reached for comment but its website said the firm recycles glass, PVC, wood waste, and does general waste disposal.

Road closures remain in place, including the A4242 Afan Way dual carriageway and parts of Water Street to westbound traffic, the council said on Thursday, with rest facilities "placed on standby".

"People who feel unwell should seek appropriate medical advice," they said, adding that schools were open but had been advised "to keep pupils and staff indoors as a precautionary measure while smoke is present".

Additional reporting by Ella Warrender.