Fire has ripped through a large bakery business in Aston near Nantwich overnight.
Ten crews from across Cheshire were called to the major incident at around 12.30am this morning on Whitchurch Road, Newhall.
Firefighters from Nantwich and Audlem initially arrived to discover a large fire in the ceiling voids of the building measuring 80×40 metres.
The A530 Whitchurch Road was closed by police and residents living nearby are advised to keep their windows and doors closed.
All staff at the Bakkavor Bakery Group unit, which employs several hundred, are accounted for and there are no reports of injuries.
Firefighters have been working throughout the night dealing with the incident.
Due to the scale of the fire, additional eight crews from Chester, Crewe, Northwich, Sandbach, Alsager and Malpas and Whitchurch were called to the scene.
Crews used eight breathing apparatus and hose reel jets to fight the fire, which was extinguished at around 5am.
Relief crews from Penketh, Tarporley, Congleton and Knutsford arrived at the site at 7am, and all of the initial crews were released from the incident.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue said: “They are currently using hand tools to cut away and remove tall of the damaged ceiling panels.
“Crews are also using thermal imaging cameras to monitor for any hotspots, they also have a number of hose reel jets on standby to damp down where required.
“Firefighters are also working with the building’s owners to undertake a salvage operation and recover equipment where possible.
“The cause of the fire is believed to an electrical fault in an air conditioning unit which was located in the roof of the building.”
During the night, crews worked in three sections and firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, used hose reel jets to tackle the fire, from both inside and outside of the building.
(images courtesy of Cheshire Fire and Rescue)
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