A DEVASTATED businessman watched his firm go up in smoke during a massive blaze.

Residents inundated the fire service with 999 calls as the flames engulfed the Alvington mill.

Firefighters from across the Forest raced to the The Old Mill, Cone Valley as a toxic plume rose high over the village.

But the owner, who also lives on the site, could only watch as the flames destroyed a massive warehouse.

Householders were told to keep their windows and doors shut as the thick black smoke rose into the sky.

It is believed the long established business recycles fridges and freezers.

Lydney watch manager Kevin Saturley said: "We knew it was big by the number of calls we had on the way.

"As soon as we got into Aylburton we could smell the smoke.

"By the time we arrived it was well alight and the flames were through the roof."

Six fire engines and six specialist vehicles with a total of 49 firefighters attended the incident.

Group manager Tally Giampa said: "The substantial number of domestic fridge units stacked in the building and the toxic plume engulfing the low-lying area, made conditions very difficult for firefighters".

After Forest firefighters brought the flames under control, others from Cheltenham and Gloucester stayed to keep watch on the steel-framed building until the following morning.

The building was completely destroyed by the fire, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault.

Council leader Patrick Molyneux (Con, Hewelesfield and Woolaston) rushed to the scene on Sunday night.

"I saw a cloud of thick, black smoke in the distance and went to see if everything was OK or if there was anything I could do," he said.

"The fire brigade seemed to have it pretty much under control.

"I didn't speak to the owner because I heard he was understandably, very upset.

"It must be terrible to lose your business like that."

Environment Agency spokesman Catherine Ellis said officials attended the fire to help manage potentially contaminated water from fire fighting activity.

She added: "Due to the nature of the fire and the fact that it contained refrigeration equipment, the fire service also deployed two booms in the Cone Brook as a preventative measure, to make sure any possible pollution did not spread."