Avonmouth Docks fire finally extinguished after 'burning for days'

A large fire at Avonmouth Docks has finally been extinguished - days after it first started.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the blaze - which involved scrap metal - had been put out on 7 October.

It comes three days after the fire first started, when crews discovered around 20,000 tonnes of scrap metal alight at Sims Metal on 4 October.

Huge plumes of smoke could be seen from as far away as Yate and Thornbury.

Firefighter Neil Stradling correctly predicted the fire would burn for at least a couple of days.

People living around the area were asked to keep their doors and windows closed.

Drivers travelling on the M49, M5 and M4 were also warned to take extra care while smoke and steam drifted onto the carriageways.

Speaking at the time of the fire, Mr Stradling said: "The fire is very deep-seated, it's very much in the centre of the pile. A lot of work is required to dig it out to actually get to it and get the fire out.

"The duration is unknown, it's something we can't really tell."It's very deep-seated, so until we're able to actually access the centre of the fire, and get water onto the fire at that location, it's impossible to tell."But it is going to be some considerable time, it could be days before we are able to say that the fire is out."