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Firefighters have been working most of the day to ventilate smoke from a giant waste recycling centre beside Haverhill bypass.

Late this afternoon smoke was still billowing out of WRC waste recycling, residents were being advised to keep doors and windows closed and people working at businesses nearby had had to go home early because of the smoke.

just after 9.30am staff and members of the public called the fire service to report smoke issuing from the roof of the 50,000sq ft building.

Two fire engines from Haverhill and one from Wethersfield were mobilised along with a turntable ladder and support pump from Bury St Edmunds.

Upon their arrival, further assistance was requested and an appliance was sent from Newmarket along with a command unit and support pump from Ixworth.

A large pile of waste, thought to be about 150 tons was alight in the building, which was heavily affected by smoke from the fire.

Firecrews initially went in wearing breathing apparatus but were then withdrawn and firefighting was undertaken using jets and ground monitors supplemented from hydrants.

People living and working in the local area were advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

Shortly after midday a turntable ladder was used to let firefighters cut a hole at roof level allowing a jet to be used from height.

Further holes have been cut in the roof for ventilation and fire water is being diverted away from mains drains under supervision of the Environment Agency.

WRC is accessed from Homefield Road and smoke from it has drifted across nearby premises and much of Haverhill's industrial area all day.

At lunchtime workers at a nearby premises were sent home, complaining of sore throats, heat and the smell of the smoke.

Members of the public are still being advised that, due to the smoke, they should keep all doors and windows closed. The smoke is lingering due to a low pressure weather system combined with little wind.