HOMES and businesses were evacuated after a huge blaze swept through a major recycling centre today.

The fire broke out in recycling material at Lawrence Recycling, near Stourport, at about 10.50am, leaving a plume of thick smoke billowing in the air.

An investigation is being launched into the cause of the blaze.

Workers were evacuated from the building within three minutes of the alarm being raised and no one was believed to have been injured.

Nearby businesses and residents were also told to leave their premises as a precaution, while others were warned to keep their windows and doors shut until the fire was brought under control.

It caused traffic chaos as a half-a-mile section of Stourport Road was closed.

Drivers were faced with diversions as the thick smoke from the plant combined with fog.

Fifteen fire crews from Kidderminster, Stourport, Bewdley, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Upton, Tenbury and Worcester were scrambled to the scene and spent five hours tackling the blaze using five main jets.

A spokeswoman for the Community Housing Group said staff had to be evacuated from their offices.

Graham Silk, health and safety officer at Lawrence Recycling, said the cause of the blaze was unknown.

He said: “An evacuation was observed by our staff and there are no injuries.”

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