RESIDENTS were evacuated and others were advised to keep their windows and doors shut after a serious fire at a recycling plant in Pendle.

Up to 20 firefighters tackled a blaze at the Norpol premises in Charles Street, Nelson, after a plastic-compacting machine caught fire on Sunday night.

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Large plumes of smoke could be seen over the location as a result of the incident, which happened just after 8pm.

Three people were treated at the scene for the effects of breathing smoke but are not thought to have required hospital treatment.

John Taylor, from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “When firefighters first arrived at the scene, there was a lot of smoke and as a result a number of houses in the area were evacuated as a precaution.

“The fire involved a machine in an industrial unit, which was 85 metres by 20 metres.

“Firefighters used six breathing apparatus sets, two hosereels and a thermal imaging camera to put the fire out.”

Neighbour Safeena Kausal said: “There was smoke everywhere and it was quite annoying. But they just told us to keep our doors and windows closed until it went away.”

Four crews, two from Nelson station and two from Colne, were called out to deal with the matter and a cordon was thrown up around the incident, which is in a heavily-populated part of the town.

Mr Taylor confirmed that the fire was actually extinguished by around 9pm and the number of crews was then reduced from four to two.

But firefighters remained in attendance, to damp down any last remaining embers from the blaze, and were only finally withdrawn at around 8.30am on Monday.

An investigation will be conducted into how the fire began but it is understood that a fault within machinery at the recycling complex is the most likely cause.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said at the time: “Residents of Nelson around the Reedyford Road area (should) keep windows and doors closed due to a large fire that has taken place at a premises on Charles Street, Nelson.

“The fire is now out but there is still a large amount of smoke coming from the premises.”