Cannock fire: Massive black plumes of smoke seen ‘from 20 miles away’ as huge blaze and ‘explosions’ break out at Midlands industrial estate – with firms ordered to evacuate and locals told to keep windows closed [Video]

A massive fire with smoke seen as far as 20 miles away has erupted at an industrial estate, with the fire services ordering an urgent evacuation this morning.

Eyewitnesses claimed there were ‘explosions’ heard in the moments before the ‘very large scale blaze’ at the parcel centre in Cannock, Staffordshire – near Birmingham.

Those living nearby described a sound like ‘a bomb going off’ just after 6am. 

Footage posted on social media shows a ginormous plume of black smoke interspersed with flames spewing into the sky.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene of the inferno this morning and told nearby residents to shut their windows, with businesses ordered to evacuate.

A spokesperson for the service told MailOnline they first received reports of the fire at 6.14am, with 10 fire trucks attending. No one was in the building at the time.

The large Cannock Orbital shopping centre has been …