Birmingham fire: Huge blaze breaks out at recycling plant as locals warned to keep their windows shut

A HUGE fire has broken out at a recycling plant tonight with thousands of tons of cardboard and paper on fire.

Residents have been told to avoid the area and keep windows shut as more than 20 water pumps battle the blaze.

Two aerial hydraulic platforms, a drone and a high volume water pumping unit have also all been deployed to help in Birmingham.

The orange burning glow from the flames was captured on camera as smoke billowed into the air.

And stacks of paper and cardboard burnt in front of firefighters.

Ash has also reportedly been falling from the sky onto the roads.

There are currently no reports of casualties, according to the .

More than 100 firefighters were sent to tackle the fire at the Smurfit Kappa Recycling compound.

Sheldon Fire Station, a local fire station, said earlier: "Red Watch from Sheldon Fire Station are currently at a major fire in the Nechells area of Birmingham.

"As a specialist High Volume Pump station, we are supplying high volumes of water to the incident ground from the River Rea."