A major fire broke out at G Simmons and Sons Pork Scratchings factory in Bloxwich, Walsall, prompting a response from 50 firefighters and ten West Midlands Fire Service appliances.

Crews are working to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings, with hydraulic platforms and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus in use.

Ten West Midlands Fire Service appliances were sent to the large fire in a Bloxwich Food Factory on Sunday 14 December evening.

Initial 999 calls came in reporting smoke in the area near Walsall.

The fire has largely effected one business, ‘G Simmons & Sons Pork Scratchings, Crackling and Crunch’.

Fire engines surround the building with long hose relays stretching several hundreds of feet.

Two firefighters have been sent up hydraulic platforms and are fighting the fire from above whilst firefighters wearing breathing apparatus on ground level help to keep the surrounding buildings safe from spreading

Workers from the factory were seen at an evacuation point where police were located, stopping members of the public from accessing the area.

A spokesman for WMFS said: ‘We were called at 7.20pm to reports of smoke in the area. Once we confirmed a fire was in progress 7 appliances (fire engines) were sent which were quickly increased to ten.

‘We have other vehicles on site including our Command Control Centre and two Hydraulic Platforms.

‘Approximately 50 firefighters and personnel are on scene and we are currently trying to stop the spread of the fire and contain it to the one building.’

It is understood that no one was injured in the blaze.

Firefighters remain on scene.

ENDS