Dozens of firefighters were last night attempting to control a huge blaze that broke out at a factory.

Crowds gathered on a hill overlooking Crown Business Park, in Old Dalby, near Melton, as the inferno raged.

Huge flames and plumes of thick, black smoke could be seen billowing into the night sky as around 50 firefighters battled to control the blaze.

Crews were called to the scene shortly after 7.50pm and the fire was still raging at the 100m by 100m factory late into the night.

Dan Cleall, a partner in Long Clawson Floor Covering, which has a storage base at the site, watched with his son as the drama unfolded.

Mr Cleall, 31, of Long Clawson, said: "We saw the fire from home and then we got a phone call saying it was the business park.

"We got here at about 8.45pm and it was well established by then. It's not our building but it's obviously a worry. There's not a lot we can do though."

Julie Witek, from Asfordby, works for a company based at the park.

She said: "I work for RPC and I was concerned it might be us but I don't think it is. I was worried because there was someone on a late shift but I rang them and they were ok.

"It's a bit of a shock."

Staff at Belvoir Brewery, near to the site in Station Road, watched the fire take hold.

One woman said: "We can just see huge flames and a lot of fire engines and black, dark smoke."

Firefighters were warning residents to keep windows and doors shut as the wind blew the fire and smoke in the direction of the village.

Crews from Melton, Syston, Loughborough, Oakham and the Leicester Eastern station attended the scene, with 10 fire engines.

They were using two aerial ladder platforms on site at the height of the blaze.

Shortly before 11pm, a fire spokeswoman said: "There are still currently 10 fire fighting engines in attendance.

"This is approximately 50 firefighters and officers."

The investigation into the cause of the fire began last night.

Meanwhile, crews also dealt with a blaze at a factory in St Ives Road, off Barkby Road, in Leicester.