AN INVESTIGATION was continuing last night after a fire at an empty factory where bulldozers had recently moved in.

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service is carrying out a probe into the cause of the blaze and level of damage at the former Northumberland foods factory in Amble – which is in the process of being demolished – on Monday night.

But police believe the fire was not started maliciously.

No one was injured and it is not thought the Coquet Enterprise Park factory suffered extensive damage in the blaze.

It is understood the demolition work will not be delayed or affected.

The incident was reported to the fire and rescue service at 5.50pm by a security guard at the site.

Workmen involved in the demolition of the factory for Northumberland County Council had finished for the day.

Six fire engines and a fire fogging unit were deployed to the incident.

Northumbria Police was informed and liaised with the fire service but did not attend.

Crews worked to contain the flames within one section of the building, which prevented them from spreading.

The council’s environmental health team, the Environment Agency and the Health Protection Agency were informed as a precaution.

Northumbria Water was also made aware of the fire and increased water pressure in the area and checked the drainage routes for water run-off.

The blaze was brought under control by 7.57pm and four of the fire appliances left the site.

No one had to be rescued or was injured in the fire.

A fire investigator from Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service attended on Monday evening to begin the initial investigation and liaison.

Two appliances remained at the site throughout the night to continue dampening down until 7.56am yesterday.

The fire and rescue service was last night continuing its investigation, with the results to be reported to police.

Police last night said there was “nothing to suggest the fire had been started maliciously”.

The level of damage was still being assessed but The Journal understands it was not extensive, and that the demolition process will be not be delayed or affected.

The factory closed just before Christmas in 2010. Bulldozers had moved on to the site on January 7 with the process due to be completed by mid-April.

This was not the first time the site had been hit by fire, with workers having to be evacuated after a blaze in November 2010.

In February 2004, workers similarly fled flames when the factory was operated by Cheviot Foods.

Last night, town mayor Ian Hinson said the beginning of the demolition had brought some optimism that the site could be tidied up before being given a new lease of life by a new operator.

“Unfortunately with that fire, it has made things a tad worse.

“We need a bit of a break as a town at the moment.”

SITE’S CHEQUERED HISTORY

ONCE Amble’s biggest employer, the former Northumberland Foods site has had a chequered history.

The factory was the first one occupied when Coquet Enterprise Park was built in 1974 to replace jobs lost when coal shipments ended at the port.

The site was once operated by Jus-Rol but by 2002 had changed hands, with Cheviot Foods taking over.

At one time it employed more than 300 people. But since then, the factory has suffered.

In 2009, Cheviot Foods went into administration. The same year, it was taken over by Northumberland Foods.

However that too went into administration. The site was then to be taken over by Longbenton Foods but that deal failed to materialise.

Administrators relinquished the ground lease to Northumberland County Council, which recently began the demolition.