FIRE crews warned people to stay indoors and close windows as they tackled a fire in the centre of Chippenham.

The blaze at a derelict building at the former Allington School site in Hungerdown Lane is being dealt with by two crews from Chippenham, one from Corsham, one from Calne and one from Melksham after the fire was reported at 3.07pm today.

Support appliances have also been mobilised from Trowbridge, Devizes and Bath and people living in the area are being advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

Police at the scene said the fire was under control and almost out by 6pm but it would be several hours until firefighters could get into the building.

People with breathing difficulties are also being warned to take care in the immediate area of the fire due to the large amount of smoke.

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

Neighbour Sophie Aldridge said she was alerted to the fire by the huge plume of smoke.

"I was sat inside with my family when we saw huge black clouds in the sky. We thought it may just be a bonfire," she said.

"But the clouds of smoke were so dark and huge we thought it couldn't be anything good. We walked to where it looked like it was coming from and found a disused building on fire.

"The firemen kicked down the metal bars around the area as it had been boarded up. We stood on the pavement with many other passers by. Thank goodness it's an old building so there shouldn't be anyone inside but it was still very shocking seeing the once thriving place up in flames.

"The firemen were excellent, three or four of them stood up on the roof of the building nearby with fire hoses. When the roof collapsed they rushed around it and got more in on the ground.

"As we watched a policewoman approached us and the crowd and warned us there was asbestos inside and we should move away as it was in the smoke. That's when we left."

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