A large fire tore through a plastic recycling factory in Thailand early morning today.

The inferno broke out at the facility in Nakhon Pathom province on March 16 at around 4 am local time.

Firefighters and five fire trucks were dispatched to the 1,200-sqm factory processing plastic waste, but had difficulty reaching the area due to the narrow path leading to it.

They doused fiery mounds of plastic, which releases toxic and carcinogenic compounds into the air when burned.

Another fire truck had to be deployed at 6:30 AM as the fire continued to rage.

The flames had been brought under control by 8 am but smoke still wafted up from the smouldering ruins.

Factory owner Weeraphong Plachote, 48, said that three machines inside were damaged by the fire.

The cause of the fire will be investigated once the area has been cleared for safety.