A MASSIVE fire ripped through the premises of one of the region's leading recycling firms last night.

So many firefighters were called in to tackle the blaze at the SWS Waste Management plant in Thomlinson Road, Hartlepool, that crews from County Durham had to be brought in to deal with other emergencies in Teesside.

The fire broke out at about 6.20pm and at its height, 11 fire engines, extra support vehicles and 65 firefighters were deployed to tackle it.

Crews arrived on the scene within four minutes to find intense flames spreading along conveyers within the factory, which recycles waste paper, and threatening to engulf the entire building.

Eight firefighters were sent in to douse the flames while colleagues took the unique step of linking four fire engines together and pumped water from one to the next because the supply was insufficient to fight the fire.

Police blocked roads leading to the scene from half a mile a way because of the threat to the public and thick smoke-billowed out of the enormous brick building for three hours before it was brought under control.

Crews from Hartlepool, Billingham, Stockton, Thornaby, Middlesbrough and even Peterlee were drafted in to help.

Investigators will return to the scene of the fire this morning to sift through the smouldering embers in the hope of identifying how it started.

Divisional officer Tony Marwood last night praised the officers of Green Watch who were first on the scene and prevented the fire spreading much further. He said: "If it wasn't for the breathing apparatus wearers going in early to fight the fire I fear we would have lost the lot."

Assistant divisional officer Alan Gill added: "It was a very, very difficult incident. They were exposed to extremely bad conditions and were working in the dark and the rain. Some of them are going to be battle-scarred."

The family-owned firm, which was founded in 1961.