Sunderland fire

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue have now released a statement about a fire on an industrial estate that poured thick smoke over Sunderland this morning.

A large fire tore through a scrap merchant's on a Sunderland industrial estate this morning. The fire, which started near the Stadium of Light, has now been controlled.

You can see Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue dealing with the blaze in the pictures below.

Firefighters spent 90 minutes getting the fire at a scrapyard next to the Stadium of Light under control.

Hay Street remains closed while fire crews dampen down the building.

A large fire that started in a scrapyard next to the Stadium of Light is sending thick smoke across Sunderland.

The fire took hold in the Ward Bros scrapyard on the Sheepfolds Industrial Estate.

Tyne and Wear fire service responded to a call at 11.58 am and are trying to control the blaze. It is not yet known how the fire started.

Here are some of your tweets from the scene.