
These are the dramatic scenes from today as firefighters battled 200ft flames using water from a nearby river to tackle a blaze in a factory.

More than 30 firefighters in six engines fought the inferno, which sent huge plumes of thick, black smoke towering into the sky at around 2pm in Belgrave, Leicester.

The raging inferno and smoke rising from it could be seen from ten miles away and police evacuated people from workplaces nearby and a whole row of terraced houses which backed on the site.

Raise the alarm: A whole row of terraced houses and nearby workplaces were evacuated when a textiles factory caught fire earlier today

Blazing: More than 30 firefighters in six engines fought the inferno, which sent huge plumes of thick, black smoke towering into the sky at around 2pm in Belgrave, Leicester

Towering: The raging inferno and smoke rising from it could be seen from ten miles away and police evacuated people from workplaces nearby and a whole row of terraced houses which backed on the site

Local residents said they could hear popping sounds and explosions as canisters inside the factory were engulfed by the fire.

Eyewitness Chris Rollings, 53, from Birstall, Leicestershire, said: 'We were shopping on the other side of town when my son Roy spotted the smoke. It's pretty dramatic.

'The flames must be about 200 feet high, and there are lots of pops, bangs and explosions.

'It looks like it is in an old factory. I jog along the tow path every once in a while, and there are quite a lot of empty factories down there.'

Another onlooker added: 'The smoke is really thick and pungent. I am 50 metres away, and I wouldn't like to be any closer than I am.'

Onlooker Rick Frisby said: 'The fire started at about 1.50pm in the roof area at the rear of a factory warehouse.

Explosive: Local residents said they could hear popping sounds and explosions as canisters inside the factory were engulfed by the fire

Unconfirmed: There are several textile factories in the area but police and firefighters have not confirmed which one is involved in the blaze

'It's had spread across the roof area spreading along towards nearby homes..

'The fire started small and quickly escalated engulfing the adjoining buildings and grew very quickly in to a major incident.

'The black acrid smoke can be smelt and seen from quite a distance across Leicester near to the city centre.

'At the time the fire started only local fire appliances were rushing to the scene and since been declared as a major incident.

'The smoke is billowing high in to the city sky line and looks if it will takes some time to bring under control.

Huge: The factory on fire is a two-storey building at least 70m (230ft) long and 30m (98ft) wide

'All surrounding roads have been closed. At this time it is unknown how it started and I have no other information at this time.'

There are several textile factories in the area but police and firefighters have not confirmed which one is involved in the blaze.

The factory on fire is a two-storey building at least 70m (230ft) long and 30m (98ft) wide.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service tweeted: 'Dealing with factory fire, Abbey Mills area of Belgrave. No further 999 calls are required. Thank you for your assistance.'