CREWS from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (H&WFRS) were called to a fire at commercial premises off the A435 at Portway, near Beoley, at 8.40pm last night.

A fire engine from Bromsgrove was first to arrive, and finding a fire in a skip that had spread to a derelict transit van and a car parked nearby, firefighters called for extra support and were joined at the site by an additional fire engine from Redditch.

Two firefighters in breathing apparatus helped tackled the blaze, and using a hydrant from the street, two foam hose reels and a main jet fire, the fire was brought under control just after 9.30pm.

Watch commander Mick Rowlands from H&WFRS said: “On arrival we found a fire in a skip containing fibreglass and other flammable materials that had spread to two other vehicles parked nearby.

"We called for extra resources and were able to prevent any further spread, notably to a paint store located not far from the burning skip.”

He confirmed that fire crews extinguished the blaze in just under an hour and that the cause of the fire is being investigated.