FIREFIGHTERS are still investigating the cause of a fire at Maw Green Landfill Site in Crewe.

The fire started in the early hours of Saturday morning when 60,000 square metres of scrap tyres and household waste went up in flames.

The fire brigade spent much of the bank holiday weekend putting out the blaze and crews were not expected to finish until Wednesday.

The plume of smoke could be seen across most of the town and local people were advised to keep doors and windows shut as a precaution.

Councillor Dawn Threadgold, of Haslington, said the plume of smoke had gone straight across the village and added: "I understand that no dangerous chemicals were released.

"However the people of Haslington are having to deal with soot damage to carpets, furniture, shoes and clothes. Children playing outside have been covered with this black sticky mess.

"I am very concerned that this incident should be a one-off. It has never happened before and shouldn't happen again."

Three fire engines from Cheshire attended the fire over the weekend with one engine keeping a watching brief overnight.

An environmental health officer from the borough council attended the incident and soil was dumped onto the tyres in a bid to block the spread of the fire.

Paul Eeles, principal environmental health officer, said: "The emissions from the fire rose to above 2,000 feet and dispersed over a very wide area.

"Fortunately the conditions very significantly diluted these emissions. Information received in relation to the content of these emissions suggests that the materials were non toxic and represented no significant risk to health."

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