VALE firefighters spent about 18 hours attending a blaze at a storage unit containing around 2,000 tonnes of oil seed rape.

The fire began at Rotherdale Farm, Tilesford when a lorry parked in the unit caught fire in the early hours of last Friday (27/2). An electrical fault in the HGV is believed to be the cause of the blaze, which damaged the cabin and trailer of the lorry.

Evesham sub-officer Julian Jenkins said his crew took over from Pershore firefighters at around 9.30am on Friday.

He added: "When the lorry caught fire in the shed it spread into the oil seed, which is about 40 per cent oil. Once it gets into the stuff it smoulders under the surface and can burst into flames when oxygen gets to it."

He added: "It was a long job and it had the potential to burn for days - we stood by with a hose in case it flared up again. Fortunately this warehouse is opposite the airfield and set well back from the road."

The oil seed rape has been removed from the warehouse, which measured about 100m by 60m.

Firefighters went back to check the situation several times before establishing their assistance was no longer necessary.