Police treating fire at recycling plant as arson

Police have said they are treating a fire that broke out a recycling plant in north Belfast as arson.

The blaze at Bailey Waste Ltd on the Limestone Road started at around 5pm on Monday.

Nearly 50 firefighters and seven fire engines were involved in tackling the fire and the road was closed for a number of hours while it was made safe.

Police say a large amount of plastic and paper was destroyed and a perimeter fence was extensively damaged.

Anyone with information about this incident, or anyone who may have been in the area of Limestone Road area and saw anything suspicious to call 101, and quote reference number 1582 of 05/07/21.

DUP MLA and North Belfast representative, William Humphrey said: “On behalf of the local community I want to sincerely thank and commend the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service personnel who tackled this major fire on Monday evening.

"This fire could easily have spread to the adjacent building containing Mountcollyer Youth Centre and Currie Primary School. I am told that at one stage the flames were less than 5 metres away from the building.

"Double glazing units along the Youth Centre side of the building have been smashed by the fire and we await a fuller assessment. However, we are extremely fortunate that the wind was not blowing towards the building on Monday or the outcome could have been much worse."