PLUMES of smoke could be seen from miles away when a large fire ripped across the grounds of an industrial park near Bromsgrove last week.

More than 40 firefighters including crews from Bromsgrove doused blazing palettes outside the Blue Bird Park building in Bromsgrove Road at 8.15pm last Wednesday.

An investigation team which attended the scene have since confirmed it was caused accidentally.

Crews from Bromsgrove equipped with eight pumps tackled the blaze along with firefighters from Hereford and Worcester.

Control

They managed to get the fire under control by 11.30pm but firefighters from West Midlands remained at the Hunnington site until 7.30am on Thursday.

Eye witnesses looked on in amazement as the smoke billowed from the former Blue Bird toffee factory which closed its doors for the last time in 1998.

The site, which still bears firm's famous swallow badge is now home to Solars Garden and Leisure and toy manufacturers Tiny Tots Ltd.

Stan Francis of Dark Lane, Romsley said: "It was as though an airliner had dropped out of the sky.

"Black plumes of smoke were caught in the wind and carried towards Hagley so I drove down the hill from my house to see if I could help."

No internal damage was made to the building and no-one was injured in the fire. An investigation to pinpoint the cause of the blaze concluded earlier this week.