Inferno tears through factory

A huge fire at an adhesive factory raged through the night, sending flames soaring into the air.

The suspected arson attack at the Staffordshire business could be seen up to 20 miles away and was today still burning.

At its height more than 60 firefighters battled the flames at the RA Wood Adhesive Tapes plant in Wedges Mills, Cannock.

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The blaze broke out at around 9pm last night, giving nightshift workers just minutes to evacuate the two-storey building and forcing the nearby McDonald's restaurant to close.

Motorists travelling to and from Cannock today faced two miles of tailbacks after police closed the busy Wolverhampton Road through Wedges Mills from the M6 Toll island to the Longford island amid fears over explosions and thick smoke.

A diversion has been set up to take drivers along the A460 to the Churchbridge roundabout and back along the A5.

Sgt Dave Cartwright, of Chase division, said today: "The firefighters are letting the fire burn out under control. There are long hold ups on the A460 but the traffic is flowing on other routes although slowly."

Assistant area commander Andy Kinsman, of West Midlands Fire Service, confirmed the blaze was being treated as suspicious and an inquiry was under way.