Four fire crews from stations in east Suffolk as well as a command unit were sent to a fire at a disused sugar beet factory last night.

Ipswich Star: There was a fire overnight (November 12-13) at the disused sugar beet factory in Sproughton Road, IpswichThere was a fire overnight (November 12-13) at the disused sugar beet factory in Sproughton Road, Ipswich (Image: Archant)

Just before 10.50pm Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the blaze involving a pile of rubbish at the site in Sproughton Road, Ipswich.

Two crews were sent to the incident from Princes Street fire station and arrived to find the waste, covering around 100m2.

Firefighters set about sourcing a water supply and asked for an additional crew to be sent to provide extra hose lengths. They also confirmed no buildings were directly involved with the fire.

Around 11.45pm crews reported there was the possibility of asbestos being present in the rubbish pile and a command unit and support pump from Woodbridge were also dispatched to the scene.

By 2.10am the incident had been scaled down with one crew remaining on site maintaining a watching brief.

People living near the factory are advised to keep windows shut to avoid the smoke plume.