A waste management firm has been fined £150,000 for health and safety breaches following a major chemical fire in Lancashire which closed two motorways.

Sections of the M6 and M55 motorways were shut for several hours during morning rush hour on July 2, 2007, while up to 70 firefighters tackled the blaze at the Red Scar Industrial Estate in Longridge Road, Preston.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Veolia ES Cleanaway (UK) Ltd after carrying out a joint 15-month investigation with the Environment Agency and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

Veolia pleaded guilty to two offences at Preston Crown Court of failing to take appropriate measures to control the storage of dangerous substances and failing to provide suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training for its employees.

Sentencing, Judge Stuart Baker fined the company £150,000 and ordered to it pay costs of £90,000.

The court heard that the fire started just after 6am in an open area of the site, which is used to store drums of chemicals.

Firefighters reported seeing drums rocketing into the air and off the site after setting alight.

Emergency services closed the industrial estate and sections of the M6 and M55 while they tackled the blaze, due to fears that smoke and fumes would travel if the wind changed direction.

The fire was extinguished by mid-afternoon after more than 132,000 litres of chemicals were set alight. HSE inspectors believe it was caused by lithium batteries igniting nearby waste materials.

Linda Murray, HSE Principal Inspector for Lancashire, said: “Any businesses that have flammable substances on their premises need to take appropriate measures to minimise the risk of fires or explosions. Veolia clearly could and should have done more.

”The fire at the waste site put lives in danger and caused gridlock on local roads.

"I hope this case will make businesses think seriously about what they need to do to prevent fires in the future.”