Work has started to clear a scrapyard that was ravaged by fireballs and huge flames two years ago.

The clean-up operation at the former Jap Euro North East Ltd scrapyard in Middlehaven is underway to prepare the brownfield site for new apartments.

The blaze on September 30 2019, near Middlesbrough College, led to residents being evacuated and left behind burnt-out cars at the site off Vulcan Street and Commercial Street.

The fire could be seen as far as Whitby and the North York Moors.

Yesterday, a digger was spotted clearing huge piles of burnt scrap at the site which is enclosed with barbed wire fencing.

In March 2018, Middlesbrough Council completed a compulsory purchase order after nearly 20 years of legal wrangling.

This meant that the council owns the land and buildings but the business owner, Zafar Quyoom, still owned the stock and scrap.

In 2019, the council confirmed that it had been working with Mr Quyoom to clear scrap from the site before the fire swept across the yard.

The area clearance will be paid for with cash from a £7.9m brownfield housing fund.

Initially, it was thought that the site would be used as a car park as part of the new Outwood Academy Riverside school.

However, council officials confirmed in April that it was no longer needed, which meant that new apartments could be built.

The council recently released another masterplan for Middlehaven which included proposals for a new venue, which could provide an exhibition space, concert hall, or a new sports centre for the area.

There were also plans for further office space at the digital and creative hub, alongside housing, cultural venues, and independent cafes aimed at young professionals.

Middlesbrough Council is partnering up with Chinese state-owned property developer BCEGI to implement these plans – the company will be putting forward proposals for different zones around St Hilda’s and Middlehaven.

Once its plans are approved by the council, it will then be able to buy the land from the local authority at market rate.

The developer has already been working with the council on Boho X.