AN industrial estate was sealed off and residents were warned to keep windows and doors shut during a massive blaze at a plastic packaging warehouse.

Thick, black smoke could be seen pumping into the sky across East Lancashire from the Avalon Packaging building at Walton Summit near Bamber Bridge yesterday.

More than 100 firefighters were drafted in to tackle the fire, backed up by police, paramedics, 14 fire engines, and incident support units.

The blaze started just after 1pm and hundreds of people soon gathered to watch despite pleas from emergency services to stay indoors.

The police helicopter used its "sky-shout" system to tell people to clear the area and police eventually managed to cordon off the estate.

The M6 motorway was closed as a precaution as smoke drifted. Traffic was diverted via the M61.

At first it was thought a security guard was in the blazing building, but he was eventually found safe and well off the premises.

Firefighters said the dense black smoke was corrosive and toxic and warned people who could see it coming over their houses to stay indoors. Assistant chief fire officer Gerry O'Neill said: "There were all sorts of packaging materials in the building such as pvc and polystyrene. There were explosions in the building but these were from gas cylinders that exploded in the flames.

"It will take a long time to put this fire out and we will be here for a few days. It is too soon to tell how the blaze started."

Mr O'Neill said: "We will now be working with the Environment Agency and the environmental health department to make sure there is no lasting damage."

Dr Kenneth Lamden, public health consultant for South Ribble, said: "Local people might well be concerned because of the heavy smoke, but we feel there is unlikely to be any serious risk to health.

"Some people might suffer skin irritation, but if this is the case the skin should be thoroughly washed. If anybody experiences breathing difficulties or are worried about health they are advised to contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.