Firefighters tackle large fire at industrial estate

Fifty firefighters are dealing with a major blaze near Newry city centre.

They were called to a building in the Greenbank industrial estate at 11:47 BST on Saturday and the operation to extinguish the blaze is ongoing.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said six pump appliances, two aerial appliances and one control unit are at the scene.

Fire officers from Newry, Warrenpoint and Belfast are involved in the operation.

The fire service has advised residents to “keep all windows and doors closed in the local area”.

It is believed the fire may have started at or near a kart racing centre.

The owners of the furniture showroom next day, House of Murphy, a 50-year-old business said their shop had been destroyed.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said traffic is at a standstill at the Warrenpoint Carriageway and Kilmorey Street areas and drivers are advised to seek alternative routes.

Loud popping noises can be heard in the city and large plumes of black smoke can be seen from more than 10 miles away.

The fire has moved towards the front of the building, and part of it has collapsed.

Flames can be seen leaping over the roof and a cordon is in place and has been extended.

Firefighters are tackling the blaze and are being assisted by local farmers with slurry tanks.

The heat of the fire is now so intense it can be felt from where I’m standing, outside Down GAA’s Páirc Esler.

The fire service and police were concerned about the fire spreading to adjacent premises.

Karen McKevitt, a former SDLP assembly member, told BBC News NI, from the scene, it looked like the flames were “spreading quite quickly”.

“It’s bellowing out quite a lot of black, thick smoke and I have been speaking to a few local businesses down in Greenbank who have evacuated their premises as a precautionary [measure] with their windows closed,” she said.

Ms McKevitt added her thoughts were with the affected businesses based in the industrial estate and the emergency services who were trying to protect them.

“It is a major fire in Newry and I just hope everybody is safe.”