Fire crews at RHI ElectronicsWORKERS at a plastics factory have united to combat the after effects of a blaze that needed 47 firefighters to bring it under control.

Fire crews were called to Dunlaw Engineering, on the Bowerhill Industrial Estate, Melksham, at 3.15am on Saturday .

The fire, thought to be caused by an electrical fault, took firefighters two hours to bring under control.

Paul Williams, technical director at the firm, arrived there at 5.15am.

He said: "It looked like a scene from Dante's Inferno but in the cold light of day all the staff have been absolutely brilliant."

He said staff and their families came to help clear up on Saturday and Sunday, even though they do not normally work at weekends.

The fire was mostly contained in the canteen, office and toilets but the main factory was smoke damaged. Nobody was injured and firefighters left at 8.34am.

Smoke caused by burning plastic materials threatened nearby homes and residents were told to stay inside and keep doors and windows closed.

An investigation into the cause of the fire has begun but there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances.

A second blaze broke out in a building adjoining RHI Electronics, also on the Bowerhill Industrial Estate, at 4.25pm on Sunday. Four fire crews, from Melksham, Cooper Avon and Trowbridge attended the fire.