FIFTY firefighters tackled a blaze at a paper recycling plant in Hartlepool last night.

Police, fire and ambulance services were called to the industrial estate at Mainsforth Terrace at around 5.45pm.

As well as 11 tenders, a hydraulic platform and an emergency tender command and control unit were also present.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said that the wind direction had directed the plume of smoke out to sea and so there was no immediate concern for nearby residents.

She said the intensity of the fire was reduced dramatically in the first two hours, but extinguishing the blaze was expected to be a prolonged affair.

There were no injuries.