Former adult education centre in Hungerdown Lane destroyed by fire

The building, at the former Allington School site, has collapsed in on itself making a fire investigation impossible which means the cause is likely to remain unknown.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service was called to the scene at 3.07pm this afternoon (October 20) and found the single storey building well alight.

Five crews, from Chippenham (two), Corsham, Calne and Melksham, tackled the blaze using two hose reel jets and two main jets, with support appliances from Trowbridge, Devizes and Bath also attending.

A spokesman for the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "At the height of the incident, a large plume of smoke could be seen from several miles away.

"Because of this, people in the vicinity were advised to keep their doors and windows closed as a precaution."

As at 7pm, the fire had been extinguished but two relief crews, from Royal Wootton Bassett and Corsham, will remain on scene to turn over and damp down.

Some smoke may continue to rise from the site while this work continues, so anyone concerned about this should keep doors and windows closed for the remainder of the evening.

The large plume of smoke could be seen from as far away as Bratton, near Westbury.