Huge blaze rips through industrial estate with 150 firefighters tackling warehouse, diggers and vehicles on fire
A single-storey warehouse in a scrap yard, three diggers and several other vehicles were caught up in the huge blaze.
5
5
5
Locals living near Maypole Crescent in Erith, south-east London have been warned to keep their windows and doors closed due to the smoke.
The industrial estate houses around 20 businesses, including repair shops and recycling centres, on the banks of the Thames.
Twenty-five fire engines, two 32-metre turntable ladders and a fire boat were deployed to extinguish the inferno.
The London Fire Brigade responded to the first of 10 calls shortly before 11pm.
Pictures show the massive fire sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky in the dead of night, lasting until 4am.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, and the LFB has not specified which buildings have been affected by the fire.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: "The Brigade's Control Officers took the first of 10 calls to the fire and mobilised crews from Bexley, Erith, Plumstead, East Greenwich, Sidcup and surrounding fire stations to the scene."
5
5
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
6 popular tumble dryer models recalled over fire hazard, with homeowners being told to ‘stop using them immediately'
HOMEOWNERS have been warned that six tumble dryer models have been recalled over fire safety fears. Owners of the appliances have been told to stop using them immediately and disconnect them from the power supply. 2 Argos has announced that a manufacturing fault in a number of Hoover and Candy appliances could lead to internal short circuits, which could in turn cause fires. The affected models are specific heat pump and condenser dryers produced since January 2019. They include two Candy integrated heat pump dryers with catalogue numbers 9203561 and 8789842. Four Hoover models are also affected, including three integrated heat pump models in white (9072905, 7666258, and 8175528) and one in black (8732552). Haier Europe, which owns Hoover and Candy has identified a technical issue involving "inconsistency in the production" process that triggers electrical faults. The manufacturer said the risk of fire is "rare", but has chosen to recall the products to prioritise consumer safety. Households in possession of one of the dryers will be visited by qualified engineers, who will perform safety modifications free of charge. To verify whether your appliance requires modification, you can enter the serial number on Haier's product safety website. This product recall is an extension of a previous recall announced in June, which affected just two models. The previous notice also highlighted the risk of the products short-circuiting, but described the danger as "low risk". Argos has apologised to customers affected by the notice, and emphasised that no other Haier, Hoover, or Candy products the retailer sells are affected. More product recalls This comes as the Goblin cordless vacuum is being removed from supermarket shelves, after a fire risk was uncovered. A statement on the UK Government's website reads: "It has been identified that in some units of the Goblin handheld vacuum, the battery may overheat. "This could pose a fire safety risk if left on charge and unattended." The statement added that the device "does not meet the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016". Shoppers who own the device have been urged to stop using it, in light of the risks. And Co-op shoppers are being urged to immediately dispose of its pork pies due to a health risk. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced the recall which applies to four-pack Mini Pork and Pickle Pies found at Co-op stores. The reason is because they contain milk which isn't mentioned on the label. Shoppers with an will be at risk should they eat the pies, the FSA has warned.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Woke council tells staff to call parents 'caregivers' instead of 'mum and dad' in its new inclusivity guide to 'recognise diverse family formation'
One of Britain's wokest councils has told staff to call parents 'caregivers' instead of 'mum and dad' in a bizarre new inclusivity guide. Merton Council, south London sent a 27-page inclusive language document round to employees encouraging them to change the words they use in the workplace. The guide, obtained by The Sun, also tells workers to stop using the words 'young', 'old' or 'mature' to describe people, in a clampdown on ageism. It's not just 'mum and dad' on the way out, with 'mother and father' also a no-no, according to the document. The Labour-run council says it aims to reduce the chances of staff making assumptions about a child's biological parents. The change in terminology is also supposed to 'recognise diverse family formation'. In further semantic reforms, employees will be told to use 'person-centred language' instead of gendered terms, including 'man the desk'. The debt-laden council's equality and diversity team also said: 'Avoid making assumptions about preferred names or nicknames without asking the individual first.' Free Speech Union boss Lord Toby Young said: 'I'm amazed that Merton Council has time for this nonsense. 'I can only assume fly-tipping and potholes aren't a problem in Merton.' Daily Mail has approached Merton Council for comment. It's the latest example of the south London local authority spending its scant resources on a woke project. In April, it decided to replace precious street parking with dedicated e-bike bays. With residents struggling to park on streets in the area even before the phased installation of 350 planned rental bike spots, the mere sight of broken white lines accompanied by the words 'cycle hire only' infuriated some locals. The initiative by is part of a wider scheme by Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, to tackle the problem of poorly parked or abandoned e-bikes being left on pavements, where they can be a safety hazard for disabled people or parents pushing buggies. Merton has yet to forge an agreement with rental companies operating in the borough, meaning e-bike users are under no obligation to use the newly created spaces. As a result, e-cycles often remain strewn about the streets, while the bays designed to accommodate them stand empty. Nahian Khan, a resident of densely populated Abbott Avenue, the site of one of approximately 220 e-bike bays introduced so far across Merton, says the initiative has placed added pressure on parking in areas where competition for spaces was already fierce. 'Even before the e-bike bay was introduced, it was often difficult to find a spot near home, especially in the evenings or on weekends,' said Khan, who has started a petition demanding Merton reconsider the introduction of bays. 'Many of us have spent far too long circling nearby streets or parking a good distance away. 'The removal of even one space, especially without warning, has a ripple effect. It's not just a single car space gone: it's added stress, competition, and tension for already limited parking. For people with mobility issues, young children, or those working shifts, it makes life harder. 'Many of us depend on our cars - they're not just a luxury, they're essential to how we live.' A perceived lack of discussion around the process has only deepened local frustration. While Merton council says every bay is subject to a statutory consultation 'advertised at the locations, as well as online, and in local newspapers', many residents complain the spaces have simply been foisted upon them. 'There's genuine frustration,' added Khan. 'The neighbours here are civil and community-minded, but many have been vocal in their alignment: we weren't in favour of this move. 'The biggest issue is the total lack of consultation. We only found out about the e-bike bay after it had been installed. No letters, no leaflets, no notices. It feels like something was done to us, not with us - and that's what stings most.' Merton council, however, insists that consultations have taken place, with the location of bays informed by data and guidance from Transport for London, local knowledge, observed evidence of use, and information from neighbouring boroughs and councils. 'Every bay that is on the road is subject to a statutory consultation,' said a spokesperson for the council. 'These are advertised at the locations, as well as online, and in local newspapers. 'While these consultations are not votes, we will review plans where respondents identify serious shortcomings to any particular bay - indeed, a number of proposed bays have been withdrawn or adjusted as a result of feedback.' The project is not cheap. The council estimates the total cost will come in at £140,000, a figure that covers consultation, staff and implementation (including posts, signs and road markings). Previous documents published by the council put the cost of two bays at £2,630 - a figure that would put the total price of 350 at £463,750. Funding will come from the 2025/26 Transport for London micromobility programme, which aims to reduce the use of privately owned cars by enabling more people to cycle and use electric bikes and scooters. Previously, Merton emerged as the second most sympathetic council in allowing its employees to 'work from the beach'. Bosses at Barnet Council granted 286 requests to work from overseas between 2020 and 2023, data from the TaxPayers' Alliance revealed. This was followed by Merton at 251 and Islington Council in North London at 237. Central Bedfordshire Council was next, giving 161 staff the green light to work from overseas, while Leeds City Council granted 74 requests. The TaxPayers' Alliance sent Freedom of Information requests to all 383 councils in the UK, with 320 responding. On top of the 1,221 approved requests in the previous three years, a further 137 requests were given the green light, but the councils did not supply yearly breakdowns.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
'Outpouring of grief' as fire destroys historic Raven hotel in Droitwich
Fire crews are still working to put out the remnants of a devastating blaze that ripped through a historic former hotel in Droitwich fire started on Sunday at the Grade II-listed Raven Hotel, in St Andrews Street, which closed as a hotel more than a decade councillor for Droitwich, Neil Franks, said it was "heartbreaking to watch", and locals had gathered outside, some crying over what had BBC has contacted Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and West Mercia Police for comment. "Bit by bit seeing it crumbling, going up in ash, and the outpouring of grief on the streets and on social media was very difficult to watch as well," Franks told BBC Hereford and Worcester."The Raven meant so much to the town, and it's truly heartbreaking." "The town is angry - angry with the developer, angry with whatever caused the actual fire to happen, and they're angry at the council... I'm not part of the ruling party, but I think there are questions to be asked to be honest."He added that there had been "many broken promises" by the developer, Live Urban Two."Whatever happens going forward needs to be community-led," he told the BBC."I'm just hoping that the Raven sign survives; we can get hold of it before the building is most likely demolished so we can restore it and hopefully take control of the area and put something up in its stead… and maybe we can attach the raven sign as a bare minimum going forwards.""Everyone said it was going to happen, everybody."The BBC has contacted Wychavon District Council for comment but has been unable to contact Live Urban Two. Leader of Wychavon District Council, Richard Morris, said he had been fighting for more to be done with the building."One reason why I took over the leadership of Wychavon in May was to try and get more action and more work done to get to a solution on it," he council was undertaking works to the building after the developers missed a court deadline to carry out urgent repairs."We were about a week away from that being completed - that's part of the tragedy - then we would've invoiced the owners, and they would've had 21 days to pay up," he told the said the owners were based internationally but had spoken to their spokesperson, who he believed would visit the site on Tuesday."The pressure from myself and my colleagues has been there," he added."I fear there's no hope for it. I fear it's lost." A complicated history The hotel has a complex history. In 2022, plans were approved to convert the hotel into 48 homes and flats, including development of the brine baths, which closed in a separate building in July 2024, the developer was warned that urgent steps were needed to protect the building or it would face legal action. The work had to be carried out within seven council said it wanted to see damage to the roof repaired and security fencing installed. The public had raised concerns over vandalism at the site, reporting that thieves had removed roof tiles and exposed the building to the mid-August, work began, and contractors boarded up smashed windows, repaired damage to the roof, and blocked off access to deter in November, Wychavon District Council secured a court order which gave the owner until 8 December to complete work on the Urban Two was told to reinstall props on the ground floor of the building to prevent further collapse of the first followed an incident on 24 September when parts of the guttering on the section of the building fell into the 19 December, the district council said the developer had missed the deadline to take the time, councillor Richard Morris said: "We'll ensure the necessary work is carried out as soon as is practically possible.""We've also asked officers to explore all available options to safeguard the building's future." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
