A large fire which broke out at a waste and recycling centre in Pool was so severe that firefighters from all over Cornwall were brought in to tackle the blaze.

Crews from Tolvaddon, Falmouth, Hayle, St Just, Newquay and Perranporth were scrambled to the Suez site on Wilson Way on Saturday evening.

The flames could be seen for miles around, and witnesses took to Facebook to describe the scene, with one describing the centre as “well alight” as the emergency services raced to the scene.

Nearby residents were told to keep their doors and windows closed, and people were asked to avoid the area.

A spokesperson for Suez said: “The fire occurred in the main transfer station building in waste from household waste recycling centres around 7pm. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

"The transfer station is currently closed pending an inspection to assess the extent of the damage to the building and we are diverting waste to other transfers stations in our network.

"The fire was contained within the transfer station building and the neighbouring materials recycling facility was unaffected."

A spokesperson for Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said at the time: "At 7.21pm this evening Cornwall Fire and Rescue service began receiving multiple reports of a fire at a recycling centre at Wilson Way, Pool.

"Due to the information received on initial calls three fire appliances were mobilised to the scene. Crews confirmed the fire is involving a large warehouse measuring 80 x 60 metres used for storing recycling plastics.

"Crews soon increased their request for eight fire appliances to attend the fire, along with an aerial ladder platform, Incident Command Support, breathing apparatus support, welfare unit and a water carrier.

"As of 10pm a total of 14 fire resources are in attendance fighting the fire along with three flexi duty officers.

"The incident has been sectorised and a water shuttle is in use. Good progress is being made on the fire."