THIRTY firefighters tackled a blaze which broke out at a waste paper recycling factory in Poole yesterday evening.

Emergency services were scrambled to the SITA UK site in Mannings Heath Road, near Tower Park, following reports of the fire at 5.45 pm.

While five pumps were used to bring the blaze under control surrounding roads were closed off and diversions set up, causing rush-hour traffic tailbacks.

A Dorset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman told the Daily Echo that about three tons of waste paper had gone up in flames and plant machinery was also involved in the blaze.

Police officers manned diversions while firefighters fought the blaze using three main lines, one hose reel jet and 10 breathing apparatus. The fire was out by 7.10pm. The cause of the blaze is believed to be accidental.

The £1 million recycling plant, which takes cardboard and packaging from homes and businesses in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Weymouth and Portland opened in February 2008, providing six new jobs.

Up to 5,000 tonnes of cardboard and packaging are handled every month at the centre; the equivalent to the weight of 625 double-decker buses. Previously much of the cardboard went to landfill sites.