Fire rips through lorry trailers at Hotpoint factory

A raging fire has torn through lorry trailers at a washing machine factory in Peterborough, sending large clouds of thick black smoke over the city.

Around 50 firefighters are working to bring the blaze under control at the Hotpoint site in Shrewsbury Avenue, with up to 40 trailers affected.

Witnesses on social media reported hearing explosions as billowing torrents of dark smoke were visible for miles across the city.

There are not believed to be any casualties and residents were warned to keep their doors and windows closed, emergency services said.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service posted images showing around eight trailers completely gutted by fire at around 9pm, around two hours after they were called to the incident.

Peterborough police asked people to stay clear of the area and said temporary road closures were in place in Shrewsbury Avenue, Morley Way and Celta Road.

They added: “It is expected emergency services will be working late into the night to tackle the blaze.”