FIREFIGHTERS are still at the Rotherwas Industrial Estate where a major fire that started yesterday morning is still burning.

Crews are expected to be there all day extinguishing the fire and damping down.

Four appliances are currently at the scene, plus the Arial Ladder Platform from Hereford and water carriers from both Evesham and Ross-on-Wye.

Station commander Sean Bailey from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The fire, involving mostly chipboard, is still burning in one end of the building and crews are continuing to damp down.”

He said crews are being assisted by the Hereford-based recycling company Wye Valley Metals who are using their specialist vehicles - cranes with grab hooks and skip lorries - to help remove the structure and the contents of the building from the site.

This process will continue throughout the day, and is likely to generate a significant amount of steam.

He added: “This steam could easily be mistaken for smoke, but we are expecting smoke levels in the area to be lower today.”

Fire officers are also working with the owners of Bathgate Flooring Ltd and their insurers to help ensure that the business is back up and running as quickly as possible.

For full coverage on the blaze, see this week's Hereford Times out today.