FIRE ripped through a North-East factory site last night - the second major industrial fire in the region in a matter of weeks.

Flames tore through a storage area at the former Ever Ready factory near Stanley, County Durham, after a blaze broke out at about 8.30pm.

Fire crews raced to the scene, but had to call in back-up, including three crews from Tyne and Wear, as the fire raged out of control with flames up to 50ft in the air.

Thirteen fire crews and three specialist equipment - more than 70 firefighters in total - were called to the factory, now run by E&R Polymers.

The fire broke out in a storage unit next to the main factory, containing more than 4,000 bales of rubber and 50,000 litres of oil.

Thirteen members of staff were evacuated and all were safely accounted for.

Divisional officer Chris Banks said: "It was a very successful operation.

"We are damping down the tanks and have placed a curtain of water between the fire and the tanks to prevent it from spreading across.

"We have also taken advice from the Met Office so we can plot which way the wind is blowing. We are pleased that there are no residential areas in the direct path of the smoke."

The police helicopter was brought in to identify hot-spots to firefighters on the ground, as crews struggled to remove hazardous material from the storage area and prevent the fire taking hold.

A pall of thick, black smoke over the factory could be seen from Newcastle, more than ten miles away, and acrid fumes hung in the air - being blown towards Gateshead and the nearby village of Sunniside.

Residents in the area were ordered to remain indoors and keep their windows closed, but no homes were evacuated.

Senior firefighters confirmed last night they had contacted the Environment Agency to look into the pollution aspects of the fire.

A crowd of more than 100 spectators gathered to watch as firefighters battled to bring the fire under control and set up a firebreak to stop it spreading to the main factory on the town's Tanfield Lea industrial estate.

Managers at the factory will meet all 40 staff at 9am today to discuss the extent of the damage and whether production can be restarted.

Factory manager John Meredith said: "We have no idea what caused the fire. Thankfully, the factory has not caught fire and only our stock has gone up, but that includes 4,000 blocks of cellular rubber.

"The fire has also destroyed the factory's transformer and the tank farm containing 50,000 litres of oil."

The 30-year-old factory complex, formerly the only production centre for the battery producer in the UK, is one of the most well-known industrial sites in County Durham.

Ever Ready closed its factory in April 1996. However, the 315,000 sq ft factory and nine acres of storage site were bought by Philadelphia Properties in November 2000, and was sub-divided and let to tenants.

Less than two weeks ago, fire destroyed the Distillex solvent recycling plant in North Shields. About 500 residents were evacuated after a toxic plume of smoke spiralled over much of Tyneside.