FIREFIGHTERS urged Blackburn residents to keep their windows closed as they battled a huge blaze at a vape factory overnight.
A giant column of black smoke rose over the Lancashire town after the Dinner Lady e-cig plant in Shadsworth Business Park went up in flames at 8.30pm.
Witness Eddie Roberts told Lancashire Live: "The whole factory seems to have completely melted. I've never seen anything like it.
"It's really close to a petrol station so I can understand why there's such a large response."
Ten fire engines were deployed as emergency services battled to get the blaze under control.
A spokesman said they would remain there until "at least the morning".
Photos show huge black plumes of smoke across the sky near the M65 motorway and the Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Ambulances were forced to take a detour to reach A&E.
Nearby businesses were evacuated, and an aerial ladder was used to hose down the burning factory from above.
Nobody was believed to have been injured.
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Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said last night: "We are receiving multiple calls about a building fire in Blackburn.
“If you can see or smell smoke, please close windows and doors."
Dinner Lady sell vapes "for beginners trying to quit smoking", according to their website.
Its products are stocked in high street vape shops and on Amazon.
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