DAMAGE running into thousands of pounds was caused to a Kidderminster factory after an arsonist started a skip fire which spread to the nearby unit.

Twenty firefighters spent the early hours of Saturday morning tackling the blaze at Stephen Betts & Sons in Green Street after police were alerted at 1.30am.

The single-storey unit of the building, formerly part of the Lionel Rowe carpet factory and used for storing photographic waste materials, was well alight when firefighters arrived and the roof had caved in.

An unknown chemical was leaking inside the factory and the fire brigade's environmental protection unit was called in. However, the chemical was later discovered to be harmless photographic developer.

Firefighter Andrew Birch said: "The fire started in a waste skip under a canopy next to the building. I would imagine it caused at least a couple of thousand pounds' damage.

"The skip was full of highly flammable film and there were bags of film next to it so the whole lot went up very quickly. The fire spread to the building and there was a lot of damage inside."

He added: "It was a tricky operation because we did not know the layout of the building and how dangerous the leaking chemical was."

A spokesman for the firm said production would not be affected by the blaze as the inferno had damaged an office and rest room and not its main unit. He added its insurance company was assessing the damage this week.

Kidderminster Police are investigating the incident. Witnesses should call them on 01562 820888.