Residents have described hearing loud explosions 'like a plane crash' or a 'bomb going off' after a huge industrial fire broke out in a Staffordshire town.

Emergency services descended on Cannock after the massive inferno broke out at a parcel centre at around 6am this morning (9 May).

Thick plumes of black smoke could be seen billowing into the air - which could be seen from as far as 20 miles away, near Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service sent ten fire engines to the scene near the A460 Orbital Island and evacuated local businesses.

Residents told how they were woken by a series of loud explosions before the area was engulfed by "ominous" black smoke.

The black smoke could be seen as far as 20 miles away (SWNS).

Terry Knowlson, 57, said: "It woke me up this morning - I heard a loud bang and thought a plane had crashed nearby of something.

"The next thing these thick black clouds of ominous looking smoke were looming over the entire town. It was like something from a film.

"Fire crews were here quick and have been working all morning.

"After all the chaos and commotion of the sirens and the original explosions, there's been a weird quiet around the place.

"People are just shocked as the scale of it, is just like something we've never seen."

Another local Andre Vezo, 32, added: "It sounded like a bomb going off, it was quite the wake up call this morning.

"I'm just praying everybody is safe in there as it looks really bad. The smoke was stretching as far as the eye could see. It's just enormous and quite frightening."

A fire service spokesperson said: "We are at the scene of a large warehouse fire in Cannock.

"Crews got a call just before 6.15am this morning (Thursday 9 May) to an address on Cley Road.

"We've currently got lots of firefighters down there alongside other colleagues from West Midlands Fire Service and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to help bring the fire under control.

"We're advising the public to avoid the area where possible whilst we work to bring the incident to a safe and swift conclusion.

"If you live nearby and feel you are affected, we recommend closing your windows and doors as a precaution due to heavy amounts of smoke coming from the building."

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READ MORE: Extra cameras to be installed in a Stoke-on-Trent town centre

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