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Up to 100 tonnes of waste burns at recycling site

Alex PopeBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
News imageJim Snook Flames coming from a building, showing a tree and fencing in front of it. The image is dark, but the flames are bright. There is also smoke in the air. Jim Snook
A large number of crews were called to the site in the early hours of Tuesday morning

Crews have been tackling a blaze at a recycling centre involving between 50 and 100 tonnes of waste.

Six fire engines were called to the fire at Smith Recycling at Chesney Wold, Bleak Hall, Milton Keynes, at about 02:34 BST on Tuesday.

Teams are expected to remain on the site for a "considerable amount of time, continuing to damp down hotspots, turn over waste materials and monitor environmental conditions", Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue said.

Jim Snook, from Flitwick, Bedfordshire, said he was working in the area at the time and said that at about 02:40 he heard a "bang, looked over and saw a plume of smoke".

News imageJim Snook A large plume of smoke rising into the sky, with trees below. There are flames and the sky is dark. Jim Snook
Smoke could be seen and smelt across Milton Keynes, people said on social media

He called the fire service, who he said were "quick on the scene".

People in the area said on Facebook they could smell the fire across the city and smoke was spotted in Furzton.

Milton Keynes Council said it was monitoring the situation.

News imageRichard Knights/BBC A police accident sign on a road, with a white fire van and a fire engine in the distance. A building is to the right. A yellow hose is running across the road. A metal fence is to the left and trees to the right. Richard Knights/BBC
Emergency services remain at the scene

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