Smoke billows over M5 as firefighters battle West Bromwich blaze
Smoke was sent billowing into the air over the M5 after a fire broke out at an industrial unit in West Bromwich.
Two vans and three cars caught fire at a garage on Union Street. Ten firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze.
West Midlands Fire Service was called at 11.13am and sent two fire engines from Smethwick and Handsworth to the scene.
A fire service spokesman said: "Two firefighters wore breathing apparatus and crews used one hose-reel jet to tackle the blaze.
"The fire involved two vans and three cars on fire."
Photographs of the fire showed thick grey and black smoke rising into the air next to the motorway, where work is continuing on the long-running roadworks between junctions 1 and 2.
There have been several fires in the area recently, including one 600 metres away at a recycling base on Wednesday.
In that incident firefighters used four water jets to douse the flames and borrowed a JCB to turn over the recycled material on fire.
