AROUND 50 scrap cars and a vehicle crusher were destroyed in a fire at a business park near Coleford on Saturday (July 16).

Seven fire engines were sent to deal with the blaze at a scrapyard on the New Dunn Business Park at Sling.

Locals in the area reported hearing a loud blast and seeing thick black smoke rising.

The smoke was visible from as far away as Cinderford, Chepstow and Monmouth.

Other businesses on the business park were evacuated and residents in the nearby village were advised to stay indoors to as firefighters tackled the blaze.

The alarm was raised at about 10am and firefighters were on the scene until 5.15pm

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called at 10am on Saturday to deal with a large fire at a scrapyard at New Dunn, Sling, near Coleford.

“Seven fire engines were sent to deal with the blaze and people were advised to stay away from the area due to the amount of black smoke.

“Residents were also advised to keep their doors and windows closed but there was no need for evacuation as the black smoke was rising.

At least 50 scrap vehicles and a car baler were completely destroyed in the fire.

“The incident ended at 5.15pm but we returned to the site at 10pm on Saturday evening to carry out a reinspection to ensure everything was safe.

“The cause of the fire is being investigated.”

Hoses were fed from a standpipe at the side of the B4228 Coleford to Chepstow road opposite the business park.

Police directed traffic to keep the B4228 open.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said they had not been informed of the incident.

He added: “The fire service will usually notify us if they find a process safety issue that warrants HSE’s investigation.”