FIREFIGHTERS were last night fighting a massive fire which broke out at a scrapyard, producing a column of acrid smoke visible up to 20 miles away.

Fire chiefs said the blaze, which broke out at about 2.15pm at Robinson's yard, in Factory Road, on the Blaydon Industrial Estate, in Gateshead, Tyneside, could last for days.

At least 40 firefighters were sent to the scene when the fire broke out in the yard, which contains an estimated 100 tonnes of scrap metal and gas cylinders.

There were several explosions as gas cylinders blew up and office workers in nearby premises were sent home early. Smoke was seen from as far away as Durham City, as firefighters pumped water from the River Tyne, nearly a mile away, in a bid to control the blaze.

Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade Divisional officer Dave Wilson said the fire was sparked by a car battery which had accidentally been left in ahead of the crushing process.

The battery shorted and ignited the interior of one of the cars. He said workers tried to put the fire out, but very strong winds helped the flames spread very quickly.

l Firefighters are hoping they have won their week-long battle against a fire at a rubbish dump.

The blaze broke out at the Mark's Quarry landfill site in Pithouse Lane, Leamside, near Durham City, last Monday, sending clouds of smoke over the countryside.

Yesterday, firefighters claimed victory in the battle against the fire in domestic waste lying in a trench.

Station Officer Dave Tunbull, of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue, said: "Hopefully, that's the end but we just don't know."

Throughout the blaze contractors used excavators to move piles of waste away from the site of the fire to try to give better access to burning material. People living in nearby West Rainton were worried about the potential health effects of the blaze.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said it has had staff on site since Wednesday monitoring what was going on. They will ask for a report from site management, he said. The blaze is not thought have to have been started deliberately.