A fire has broken out, sparking a “huge dust cloud”, at a business park in Northamptonshire.

Huge plumes of dark grey smoke were seen rising into the sky above Sywell Aerodrome Business Park in Wellingborough Road.

Fire crews were called at 12.47pm on Tuesday to the blaze at a factory, and workers from surrounding businesses were evacuated.

The service said the building where the blaze happened was not occupied at the time, and there are not thought to be any casualties.

Rob Doyle, a local resident, said: “It’s a huge dust cloud and whilst we were there, the police advised that the roof of the buildings that went up was asbestos, so bit of a health concern for local residents and further afield.”

He added that he believed dust was spreading and settling miles away from the scene.

Rachel Noding, who works in a marketing business near to where the fire broke out, said she and her colleagues were shocked at how quickly it spread.

She said: “The fire took hold really quickly. Within 20 minutes it was just massive. It was quite scary.”

Residents have been advised to shut their windows and doors for health and safety reasons while the firefighters tackle the blaze.

A number of road closures are in place.