Firefighters remain at site of factory fire

Firefighters are continuing to deal with a factory blaze, more than 24 hours after it broke out and gutted the site.

No-one was hurt in the fire in the building near Sunbeam Street's junction with Upper Villiers Street in Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, which began shortly after 07:30 GMT on Wednesday.

At its height, more than 100 firefighters were on the scene but in an update issued on Thursday, a West Midlands Fire Service spokesperson said crews "worked throughout the night" to "scale down" the fire.

Twenty-five firefighters were still at the scene tackling hotspots identified by a drone, they said.

West Midlands Police officers are still directing traffic but Bromley Street and Marston Street, at the junction of Upper Villiers Street, is due to reopen soon.

People were still urged to avoid the area and plan alternative routes with Upper Villiers Street remaining closed from its junction with Goldthorn Hill to the one with Marston Road.

The spokesperson said there was still no update on the cause of the fire but an investigation would start when it was safe to do so.

They added the large plume of smoke from the fire continued to affect visibility and air quality.

"Anyone whose home or workplace is affected was advised to keep doors and windows closed as a precaution," the spokesperson said.

The fire service thanked people for avoiding the area while fire crews remained at the scene.

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