Canal Road in Trowbridge was shut this afternoon after eight fire engines were called to the apetito factory at 2pm after a fire broke out in a building used for packaging.

Thick black smoke was seen pouring from the back of the factory.

An ambulance has gone to the scene as well; the staff are understood to have been led up the road to the apetito offices.

The apetito site has been safely evacuated and no injuries have been reported.

Adjacent businesses, including Airsprung, are also being evacuated by Wiltshire Police as a precaution.

Diversions are in place for motorists.

People living and working near the Canal Road Industrial Estate in Trowbridge have been advised to keep their doors and windows closed as acrid black smoke rises from a significant fire.

As at 3.30pm, eight fire crews were at the scene – two from Trowbridge, two from Warminster, and one each from Bradford on Avon, Melksham, Westbury and Frome.

There are also two aerial appliances, from Bath and Swindon, an incident command vehicle from Devizes and a water carrier from Pewsey.

The fire is affecting a 30m x 50m building of sandwich panel construction, and six breathing apparatus wearers are using three hose reel jets to fight the flames.

An onlooker who wished not to be named had a sister working at the apetito site at the time of the fire.

They said: “I had a phone call from my sister asking if I could take her home. She said all the workers had to leave everything behind and leave quickly.”

Anyone with an existing respiratory condition should seek medical advice if they have a specific concern.