UPDATE: 3.40pm: Emergency services are still at the scene of the fire, but can confirm the fire is out and cordons are lifted. The A449 has reopened.

 

ROAD closures are currently in place in Kidderminster following a major blaze at a factory in Summerfield.

Police have shut the A449 and Wilden Lane is also closed after fire broke out at the Roxel factory in Summerfield Lane, which manufactures rocket engines for missiles, at about 8.30am.

Businesses in the Hoobrook Industrial Estate and nearby residents are currently being evacuated. An exclusion zone of 600m is in force.

UPDATE 11.35am (West Mercia Police statement):

Emergency services are currently attending a fire at an industrial site near Kidderminster.

At 8.30am Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service attended the Roxel site at Summerfield on A449 with six pumps plus their Incident Support Unit and a Command Support Unit.

The site has been evacuated as well as a small number of residential properties on roads neighbouring the site. A rest centre has been activated by Wyre Forest District Council for those who have been evacuated from their homes.

The A449 is currently closed south of the roundabout junction of the A449 and A442.

There are no reported injuries and the Fire Service are working to contain the fire. Station Commander Phil Griffiths said:  "At this time we cannot give at timescale of how long we expect the operation to last, but we are working as quickly and as hard as we can to bring this to a successful outcome so everyone can return to work and their homes.

"Currently, we are containing the incident and preventing escalation. We'd like to thank the community for their assistance and patience as we deal with the fire."

Superintendent Kevin Purcell, who is leading the policing operation, said: "I hope the public accept my apologies for the closure of the A449 but it is necessary for their safety.

"Police officers are deployed to maintain the cordon placed around the site and give support to our colleagues at the Fire Service who are dealing with the fire itself.

"We are also liaising with local authorities to co-ordinate our response to any community impacts the fire may have."