Huge plumes of black smoke seen billowing into sky in Manchester

Huge clouds of black smoke billowed over Manchester after a blaze broke out on wasteland near the city centre.

Pictures taken from eyewitnesses showed the thick plume in the sky from a fire on a site near the Collyhurst and Ancoats area of the city at around 1pm.

Fire crews at the scene brought the blaze under control ‘quickly’ that ignited from plastic pallets on an open area of ground.  

One local said he saw local yobs set fire to the pile of debris.    

A carwash worker nearby, said: ‘I saw the whole thing happen. There were a group of people all hanging around the site and messing around.

‘They set fire to one of the pallets and the next thing the whole thing goes it.

‘The plastic was throwing out thick black smoke. It looked pretty scary but it was just idiots.’

Fire crews based at Manchester Central, Philips Park and Salford stations attended the scene off Rochdale Road after a number of 999 calls were received. 

Other pictures showed the smoke rising over buildings as it billowed into the sky

Emergency services received ‘several calls’ from concerned members of the public over the blaze

Eyewitnesses took pictures of the huge plume from inside buildings showing the dark black cloud

Fire crews said the fire involved a ‘large quantity of burning plastic pallets’ on wasteland 

Firemen continued to hose down the rubbish tip and they left the scene just before 3pm

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire Service said: ‘The fire involved a large quantity of burning plastic pallets in the open. 

‘We received several calls from the public.’

There are no reports of any injuries.