SCORES of workers fled a factory last night when a printing machine burst into flames.

The machine's fire suppression system, designed to release carbon dioxide to starve the blaze of oxygen, failed to activate properly and the fire spread quickly throughout the Print Design and Graphics factory at Riversdale Way, in Newburn, near Newcastle.

At its height, almost 50 firefighters fought to contain the blaze, which broke out at 7.30pm.

They were able to get the fire under control just after 9pm.

The cause was being investigated last night.