MORE than 50 firefighters were involved in battling a blaze at a former factory early today.The fire, which is being treated as suspicious, took hold at Brett Works in Pound Lane, Hadleigh, and was reported at just before 2am today.

MORE than 50 firefighters were involved in battling a blaze at a former factory early today.

The fire, which is being treated as suspicious, took hold at Brett Works in Pound Lane, Hadleigh, and was reported at just before 2am today.

Fierce flames took hold in the derelict building, previously used for carpentry and metal fabrication, before spreading to a neighbouring building which was also derelict.

Assistant divisional officer John Hubble, said the fire is being treated as suspicious and a fire investigation will continue today.

He said: “It is being treated as suspicious as there is a high probability this fire was set.

“If the gas canisters had gone up it could have caused a fairly large explosion with the potential to damage some of the houses nearby.”

Pound Lane resident Chaz Mansour, 63, said he was woken by what sounded like “a massive firework display”.

He said: “It was quite spectacular.

“I was a bit concerned because it was quite windy and there were sparks flying about.”

Other residents reported seeing a group of up to a dozen teenagers gathering on the site over Easter weekend.

Crews from Ipswich, Hadleigh, Nayland, Sudbury, Long Melford and Felixstowe were sent to the fire.

Although the fire was brought under control by around 4am, three crews remained in attendance damping down the fire and monitoring two canisters.

The site is currently the subject of a controversial planning application.

Supermarket giants Tesco submitted plans for a superstore on the Brett Works site at the end of last month, after Babergh District Council agreed to sell off its land to the retailer.

n. Did you witness the blaze? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk