This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8280824.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Fire tackled by 200 firefighters Asbestos fears over factory fire
(19 minutes later)
Up to 200 firefighters are tackling a fire at a clothing factory in the West Midlands that has spread to a second building. A massive factory fire in the West Midlands may have led to asbestos being released into the environment, fire chiefs said.
Fire chiefs said asbestos may have been released into the environment and urged people living near the Smethwick factory to shut windows and doors. Fire chiefs urged people living near the Hawthorns Trading Estate in Cornwall Road, Smethwick, to shut their windows and stay inside.
There have been no casualties and no-one was thought to be trapped in the buildings. Up to 200 firefighters have been tackling the fire, which spread to a second building, since 1220 BST.
Roads were shut around Monty's Tropical Rags factory and surrounding buildings. No-one was thought to be trapped in the buildings.
Police shut roads around Monty's Tropical Rags factory and its surrounding buildings after the fire started.
It was bad - the building was collapsing and all the asbestos was being thrown to the floor Wayne Shaw, eyewitnessIt was bad - the building was collapsing and all the asbestos was being thrown to the floor Wayne Shaw, eyewitness
Cornwall Road, along with Bridge Street North, Rabone Lane and Downing Street were closed because of the incident.Cornwall Road, along with Bridge Street North, Rabone Lane and Downing Street were closed because of the incident.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing large black plumes of smoke across the area and the police helicopter circling over the factory site on Hawthorns Industrial Estate. Eyewitnesses reported seeing large black plumes of smoke across the area and the police helicopter circling over the factory site, which is near West Bromwich Albion's football stadium.
The fire service told people living and working within a half-mile radius of the site, which is near West Bromwich Albion's football stadium, to keep their windows shut and stay inside.
Some firefighters had to leave the site when parts of the buildings collapsed.Some firefighters had to leave the site when parts of the buildings collapsed.
'Building collapsing'
Eyewitness Chris Myers said: "I looked up and saw four firefighters on the building.Eyewitness Chris Myers said: "I looked up and saw four firefighters on the building.
"Two of them managed to get down the ladders on time and two others had to run back on to the other part of the building because it was collapsing.""Two of them managed to get down the ladders on time and two others had to run back on to the other part of the building because it was collapsing."
Police said it was not yet known what caused the fire.Police said it was not yet known what caused the fire.
Wayne Shaw, who works near the industrial estate, said he saw the fire spread to two other buildings.Wayne Shaw, who works near the industrial estate, said he saw the fire spread to two other buildings.
He said: "It was bad - the building was collapsing and all the asbestos was being thrown to the floor."He said: "It was bad - the building was collapsing and all the asbestos was being thrown to the floor."