Crews tackle large fire overnight at landfill site

Firefighters have been tackling a large blaze at a landfill site in Leicestershire.

Crews were called to the blaze on the site in Gibbets Lane, near Shawell, at 18:45 BST on Thursday.

Initially, the fire measured 50m by 20m (164ft by 66ft) and there were concerns it was "extending into the ground", a spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said.

Crews remain at the scene where hot spots are being dealt with.

The spokesperson said two appliances attended on Thursday and shortly after, a water carrier was requested.

"There's been various [appliances] attending throughout, with two appliances still there at the moment," she said.

"A decision has been made to use on-site machinery to dig out and turn over the waste for the dampening down of hot spots."

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