This is why a huge plume of smoke hung over Clayton-le-Woods

Four engines from Leyland Bamber Bridge, Chorley and Penwortham were deployed in mid-afternoon to a former quarry off Dawson Lane at Clayton-le-Woods yesterday (Saturday).

Approximately seven tonnes of plastic was on fire, sending thick black smoke into the air above the landfill site.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "The crews had the blaze under control within about an hour. The smoke could be seen for quite some distance."

Crews stayed on at the site to damp down and were still there three hours later.

The cause of the blaze is not known.