Scrapyard destroyed in fire

More than 70 firefighters have been tackling a major blaze in Cheltenham.

The fire started at around midnight at Tudor Motors in Colletts Drive, affecting a building and over 100 cars.

Firefighters fought the blaze to stop it spreading to other properties, including a car sales room, a builders’ merchant and a sports clothing shop.

Group Manager Clive Alder, who was at the scene, said: "Without doubt, swift action by our environmental protection unit prevented water courses being polluted. It also enabled us to actually draw water from the River Chelt to supplement our water supplies to fight the fire."

Firefighters used the latest specialist vehicles to bring the blaze under control, ensuring that neighbouring businesses and schools could open today.

Included in those specialist vehicles were two High Volume Pumping vehicles. These can deliver the required quantities of water straight to the aerial appliances, which allow crews to extinguish the fire from above.

Investigations into the cause are ongoing. All roads have now re-opened.