FIREFIGHTERS are still unable to begin their investigations into a huge North Yorkshire blaze - days after the fire broke out.

Although a team remains at the scene on the Thirsk industrial estate it is still too hazardous to enter the buildings affected.

However the two fire appliances still at Todd Waste Management are continuing to damp down hotspots.

The fire broke out at the recycling plant last Tuesday evening and involved hundreds of tonnes of waste material, including plastics, paper and cardboard.

Twelve fire crews took more than 12 hours to bring the blaze under control after it spread from the main waste heap to two buildings where recycled materials are sorted and stored, and the firm's offices.

A fire service spokesman said yesterday: "Due to the extent of fire damage to the building structures firefighters have not entered any of the buildings which have been on fire.

"They have not been able to establish the cause of the fire and investigations into this will commence as soon as possible."

The spokesman also eased the fears of local residents about the aftermath of the blaze.

"The smoke now permeating from the incident is largely steam as result of the water used to extinguish the fire," he said.