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Firefighters tackle battery blaze at recycling site

Indy Almroth-WrightSouth of England
Firefighters tackle Thatcham waste fire

Firefighters have been tackling a fire at a recycling centre overnight involving about 150 tonnes of batteries.

The fire near Colthrop Lane in Thatcham, Berkshire, started at about 19:40 BST on Monday. Firefighters from across Berkshire were joined by crews from Oxfordshire, Dorset and Wiltshire, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight fire services.

Large clouds of thick, black smoke, and loud bangs could be heard. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to avoid the area, stay inside and keep doors and windows closed as a precaution.

The fire service said crews had been scaled back but expected to remain at the fire through Tuesday.

Kingsclere Fire Station A bright orange glow and smoke from large fire in stacks of waste with water from fire hoses spraying onto the flames. It is dark.Kingsclere Fire Station
Loud bangs were heard after the batteries caught fire at a recycling centre on Colthrop Lane

The fire led to trains between Reading and Newbury being halted on Monday evening and long distances services between London Paddington and the West Country diverted.

GWR said the line reopened late on Monday night and train services were running normally.

Nearby roads and businesses are also open as normal.

BBC/Alex Meakin Entrance to a waste recycling site - a fire engine is parked up in front of two large HGVs. Smoke can be seen rising behind.BBC/Alex Meakin
Fire crews from a number of stations worked through the night to fight the fire
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