Compost centre is hit by fire

Flames ripped through tons of wood stored at a recycling centre behind one of the area's most popular garden centres.

Six fire crews, including a team from Stafford Fire Station, were called to Midland Compost and Recycling – behind Hollybush Garden Centre in Cheslyn Hay – last night when the flames started to take hold.

Machinery used for sorting waste for composting was the source of the fire which then spread to timber stacks at the Warstone Road site at around 7.40pm last night. Alan McEntire, station manager at Stafford Fire Station, said: "A plastic conveyor belt caught fire producing large plumes of smoke."

The garden centre was not affected by the fire and was open for customers today as usual.