Firefighters expect to be tackling one of the biggest fires in the county's history for the rest of the day after the Whittlesey warehouse was engulfed by flames.

Crews from across Cambridgeshire were pitched into battle against the inferno at a factory on the A605 owned by the Abbey Group, which produces corrugated casing.

As it happened:
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Speaking this morning after the flames had been brought under control, Station Commander at Dogsthorpe fire station Nick Foster said the blaze was expected to still be burning this evening.

Station commander Foster said: "It's one of the biggest fires that Cambridgeshire has ever seen. A fire like this is a very rare occurence."

Four employees in the factory when the fire broke out at about 7.30am were safely evacuated, the fire service confirmed.

Early reports of explosions from eyewitnesses were also backed by the brigade, with Station Commander Foster revealing that gas cylinders stored at the factory are believed to have blown up.

The fire sent a towering column of black fumes skyward, which was visible for miles around. It caused transport chaos, with the railway between Peterborough and Whittlesey closed, and roads in the surrounding area shut.

The fire service launched a huge operation to tackle the blaze, sending 15 engines and 75 crewmen to the scene, with crews from Whittlesey, Dogsthorpe and Stanground among those attending, with engines from as far afield as St Ives and Cambridge offering assistance.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing flames "the size of houses" leaping from the burning building, while a passer-by who reached the scene before firefighters said the heat could even be felt through his car door from 80 metres away.

Residents worried by the smoke were warned to stay indoors and keep their windows closed, and cordons were set up by the emergency services around the site, forcing commuters heading for Peterborough to find another route to the city.

By 10am, the fire service said the blaze was under control, adding that it had not been classified as a "major incident", but was nevertheless a "significant" one.

The nearby brickworks run by Hanson was also emptied, with 250 staff evacuated.

Karen Williams (33), of Moorhen Road, Whittlesey, was alerted by the wail of sirens this morning.

She said: "The smoke went on for miles."

Fire investigators were on the scene late this morning.

The brigade had set up 11 static jets or "ground monitors" to keep water on the fire.

Continues on next page: Scene was like 'Armageddon' this morning