THICK black smoke billowed out across Mexborough on Monday, when thousands of illegally stored tyres were alight.

About 60 firefighters and ten fire engines from across South Yorkshire attended the scene at a tyre recycling site on Whitelea Grove Trading Estate from 1.30am. A building run by Vans in Yorkshire was also destroyed, with about 25 vans inside.

About 20 residents were evacuated and others told to keep windows closed.

Full story in Friday's Dearne edition of the Chronicle (July 2)