FIREFIGHTERS have spent the early hours tackling a warehouse blaze.

Crews were called to Vernacare, in Folds Road, at 3.47am this morning.

They were scrambled to the scene after smoke was reported coming from a single storey warehouse.

Firefighters have been using breathing apparatus, hose reels and fans to put out the blaze, which involves cardboard bed pans and urine bottles.

It is understood the fire was confined to one corner of the building where the cardboard products were stacked on pallets.

Four fire engines and more than a dozen firefighters remain at the scene.

It appears they are currently damping down in and around the warehouse, which is still smoke logged.

A forklift truck driver is helping to clear the warehouse of cardboard, some of which is still burning.

Crew manager Phil Dearden said the fire could have been more serious if it had not been for a sprinkler system being activated.

He said: " Because the sprinklers had activated it had surpressed the fire.

"But with it being cardboard and paper, it expands when water gets on it and the stacks had become unstable and collapsed.

"With it being paper and cardboard it is burning in the middle."

"We fought the fire from as close as we could do so safely and used positive pressure fans to clear the smoke."

Once the fire was under control forklift truck drivers brought pallets out of the warehouse building to be hosed down buy firefighters.

Mr Dearden added: "It could have been a bigger job but the sprinkler has partly done its job and us getting in early stopped it from spreading."

Mr Dearden said that the warehouse did not appear to have been seriously damaged, despite the blaze.

He said: "I don't think the warehouse is that badly damaged. It's damaged where we have had to break in, which can be repaired

"The actual frame and cladding looks in good condition."

Mr Dearden added that the fire service had liaised with the Environment Agency about the possible impact from water run off, and they were satisfied with the steps that had been taken.

A spokesperon for Vernacare said: "A fire was discovered at approximately 3am this morning, Wednesday 18th October at Vernacare's Folds Road site. 

"Our internal processes and sprinkler system operated effectively, the Fire Service attended and the fire was quickly put out. 

"A small section of the site is currently under assessment and early indications are that the fire was contained and damage limited. 

"We are open for business this morning. 

"Our thanks go to our night shift colleagues and the emergency services for their quick response."

The cause of the blaze is not yet known.

Fire investigation officers were expected to arrive at the site this morning.