Huge fire near power station creates enormous cloud of toxic black smoke seen for miles
HUGE black clouds have filled the air over Cheshire, forcing people inside their homes, after an enormous fire broke out near a power station.
The smoke rising over Fiddlers Ferry power station could be seen for miles around
Firefighters were called to the blaze at a warehouse in Tan House Lane, in Widnes, at around 7pm.
Huge plumes of toxic black smoke could be seen for miles around, looming over the nearby Fiddlers Ferry power station.
It led some people to think the station itself had caught fire.
Cheshire Fire service has advised residents to stay indoors and keep all dorrs and windows shut, and urging motorists to stay away from the area where possible.
So #FiddlersFerry has gone up in flames pic.twitter.com/AGFR2xlpEo
— Skye xx (@skye_pilot_gurl) April 20, 2017
Residents living nearby have been told to keep all doors and windows shut
The fire service said in a statement: "Firefighters have been called to reports of a fire in Tan House Lane, Widnes.
"When they arrived they were confronted with a large blaze involving a warehouse and an amount of plastic and cardboard."
The toxic smoke could could seen from across the River Mersey, three miles away in Runcorn.
Cheshire Fire has since tweeted that due to the large amounts of smoke, fire crews would be at the site "for some time".
I think fiddlers ferry is on fire...
— Ian Houghton (@_Scrounger) April 20, 2017
We are currently dealing with a large fire on Tan House Lane in Widnes. Please avoid area if possible. Also keep windows and doors closed
— Cheshire Fire (@CheshireFire) April 20, 2017
Fiddlers Ferry power station was opened in 1971 and became fully operational in 1973.
It burns toughly 16,000 tonnes of coal a day.
The station has become an iconic sight for motorists travelling along the A562 Widnes Road, and its 660ft chimney can reportedly be seen as far away as the Peak District.
But it is currently due for closure by 2025, after then Energy Secretary Amber Rudd said all coal-fired power stations would be shut to cut down on emissions.