Fire services were called to the SUEZ recycling centre on Launceston’s Pennygillam Industrial Estate after a fire was discovered on the site.

At 8.55pm, on August 3, fire services were in attendance at the scene with five water pumps present, however, as the evening went on, this number grew to seven, with teams from Launceston, Callington, Liskeard, Holsworthy, Tavistock and Helston present.

Fighting of the fire continued into the night, with crews “continuing to make good progress at this incident” at 3.20am according to reports. By 5am they reported that crews were “continuing to make slow progress damping down rubbish piles. Crews are being assisted by on-site staff to clear rubbish.”

Access to the site was restricted to the emergency services and essential SUEZ staff. As a result, the adjoining household waste recycling centre was closed to the public and local residents were instructed to use the Tiscott Wood (Bude), Wheal Prosper (Bodmin) or Tamar View (Saltash) household waste recycling centres in the interim period.

A SUEZ spokesperson added: “We would like to thank the Cornwall Fire and Rescue service and our operational staff for their continued efforts to manage the fire.

“The cause of the fire and the extent to which the facility has been damaged remain unknown but will be subject to investigation in due course.

“We apologise for the effect this incident is no doubt having on our neighbours and the local community – we appreciate your support and understanding.”

Despite the scale of the fire, Suez have confirmed that the facility is now operational once more. A statement from the organisation said: “As of 9am this morning [Friday, August 5] the household waste recycling centre at Launceston is open to the public as normal.

“We’d like to thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.”