FIREFIGHTERS tackling a blaze in a listed building beat a hasty retreat when they spotted ammunition inside.

Crews were sent to T P Plastics in Stourport-on-Severn last night after fire broke out inside a derelict house, located within the factory compound.

"We entered the house wearing breathing apparatus because we wanted to make sure there weren't any squatters inside, but we then saw three shotgun cartridges on the floor," said Leading Firefighter Tony Wilks, of Kidderminster fire station.

"We didn't know if boxes of ammunition were stacked inside, so we decided to make a tactical withdrawal."

The three crews of firefighters resorted to dousing the property with hoses and jets, as the blaze raged next to the town's former vinegar works in Cheapside between 7.15pm and 9pm.

It is not believed anyone was inside the building at the time.

"The factory itself wasn't damaged by the fire, which we've classed as of suspicious origin as someone inspected the derelict building not long before the fire was reported and saw nothing amiss," said Mr Wilks.

The flames - fanned by gale-force winds - gutted the ground floor, the first floor and the roof of the derelict house.

They also spread to two properties on either side of the burning building, but the neighbouring buildings were not badly affected.