Large fire engulfs trailer full of waste in lay-by

Gemma Sherlock
BBC News, West Midlands
Market Drayton Fire Station A dark sky lit by an orange flame, in the smoke an outline of a lorry can be seen with a water being sprayed on it. Market Drayton Fire Station
The A41 had to be closed as crews tackled the flames

A large fire which engulfed an abandoned trailer full of rubbish left in a lay-by is being treated as arson, police have confirmed.

Crews from Shropshire Fire and Rescue were called to the fire on the A41 between Tern Hill and Bletchley, near Market Drayton, at about 21:52 BST on Wednesday.

West Mercia Police had to close the road in both directions as crews brought the blazer under control.

The trailer contained baled waste material and was one of many to be abandoned across the country in recent months.

Police along with Shropshire Council and the Environment Agency launched an investigation in January into the abandoned trailers.

Officials have suggested they could be linked to organised crime.

Market Drayton Fire Station A destroyed lorry, with the back burnt out and it full of wasteMarket Drayton Fire Station
The abandoned vehicle full of baled waste was one of many to be left in similar incidents across the country

Fire crews from Market Drayton and Hodnet Retained Fire Station tackled the fire on Wednesday using two high pressure hose reel jets.

The blaze was brought under control after one hour, and a crew remained on scene over night to dampen down the area.

Market Drayton Fire Station A firefighter in the dark, lit by an orange flame, sprays water into smoke. Market Drayton Fire Station
Crews managed to put out the flames an hour after arriving at the scene

A Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "Due to this trailer and its contents having been abandoned, and with the potential for there to be hazardous materials within the waste, the Environment Agency were requested to attend in daylight hours to assist with the removal of the trailer.

"We are pleased to report that there were no injuries at this incident, and that no potentially contaminated water runoff entered any water courses."

The A41 has reopened to traffic, and police say inquiries are ongoing.

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