Several roads in Birkenhead were closed as a major fire sent thick black smoke billowing into the area

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service was called at around 4.17pm on Monday, to reports of a fire in the unoccupied single-storey building in Thomas Street.

Borough Road had been closed both ways and the smoke also affected Jackson Street between Borough Road East and Blackpool Street.

The roads were reopened to traffic at around 5.30pm.

A total of eight fire appliances were in action along with the aerial appliance, which has a platform on the end of an extendable arm to put water on fires from above roof height.

Merseyside Fire Service control room has received more than 30 calls about the incident.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known.

A structural engineer also attended the scene.

Station Manager Steve Gadsdon said: “Firefighters had to work quickly, during a very warm day and did well to prevent this fire spreading to other buildings in this area of Birkenhead.

"This was an intense fire and firefighters fought the flames from three sides of the building as well as above. When firefighters arrived flames could be seen coming through parts of the roof of the warehouse.

“Eight fire appliances attended the scene to make sure we had enough firefighters at the scene to control, contain and extinguish the fire safely.

“The fire was brought under control and firefighters worked to extinguish the flames at the site.”

 More later.