Crews bring fire at scrap metal yard under control

A large fire at a recycling centre which suspended mainline train services nearby is now under control.

Eighty-five firefighters from both Suffolk and Essex fire services were sent to Sackers scrap metal recycling yard at Great Blakenham, near Ipswich.

Train operator Greater Anglia advised customers not to travel and said disruption was expected "under further notice".

Incident commander Aeneas Postlethwaite said crews would remain on scene into Friday.

At 15:16 BST a spokesperson for Suffolk Fire Service said the blaze was now under control and it would remain on the scene into the night.

They added that there had been no casualties and a number of oxygen cutting cylinders at the scene had been safely removed.

Mr Postlethwaite added: "We have currently scaled our resources back down from 14 appliances to eight because we have not got hold of the fire.

"We are still working hard at this moment of time to get the network open and get trains following again but due to some of the weather conditions picking up a little bit of wind that is causing smoke still to go over the track."

He said he hoped resources could be reduced further to four or two appliances as fire crews dealt with hotspots.

While the cause of the fire was still unknown, an inspection would begin on Friday.

Suffolk Police has closed Gipping Road and Mason Drive in the area to allow easy access for firefighters.

But Network Rail has closed the railway line in both directions that passes directly next to Sackers.

Greater Anglia has told customers to not travel between Ipswich and Norwich, or Cambridge and Ely.

It has lifted ticket restrictions and said disruption was expected until further notice.

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