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Bermondsey waste centre fire disrupts trains

Harry Low, James W Kelly & Yang TianLondon
Video shows moments after the fire broke out

Some London Overground trains remain suspended after a fire involving 50 tonnes of household waste "severely damaged" a recycling facility in south-east London.

Fifteen fire engines were called to Landmann Way in South Bermondsey shortly before 20:00 BST on Tuesday, according to London Fire Brigade (LFB), which said the fire was brought under control six hours later.

No Windrush line services are running from Surrey Quays to New Cross "due to an unsafe structure next to the railway". Trains from Highbury & Islington to Crystal Palace, Clapham and West Croydon are severely delayed.

The LFB said the cause of the fire was not yet known. Firefighters tackled a blaze at the same facility in June.

News imageThomas Magill Six people in high-vis jackets walk near the recycling facility. Behind them are piles of waste and the burnt-out ceiling and walls of the unit. Thomas Magill
Crews remained on the scene to extinguish pockets of fire in the facility

Speaking from the scene, station commander Duncan Rees said: "Crews worked hard in difficult conditions to bring the fire under control."

He added that ladders were usedto tackle the flames from above.

News imageSmoke rises over buildings. River Thames is in foreground
London Fire Brigade received more than 160 reports of a fire

Crews from East Greenwich, Old Kent Road, Deptford and surrounding fire stations were dispatched to the scene.

Rail services into London Bridge from New Cross were affecteddue to the fire blocking railway lines, National Rail said.

"Trains between these stations may be cancelled, severely delayed by up to 100 minutes or revised," it said on Tuesday.

News imageRachel Jardine A cyclist watches besides a blue railing as plumes of black smoke drift into the sky above the yellow recycling facility. Rachel Jardine
The fire caused rail disruption between London Bridge and New Cross

Rachael Jardine, a freelance journalist based in New Cross, told BBC London that trains on a nearby overground track were continuing to pass despite the "thick black smoke".

A local resident said he had first spotted the blaze while cycling home.

"I was coming back from Tescos and I could see the smoke from the road," he said.

"We cycled back to mine and realised it was just across the road... it's pretty mental."

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