They were called out at 9.57pm to Asfordby Storage and Haulage in Saxby Road where a single-storey warehouse was well alight.

Staff were evacuated from the building and police set up a 200m safety cordon around the site.

An ambulance was called to the scene at about 11.30pm and put on standby as a precaution - standard practice when there are 10 or more fire appliances at the scene of a blaze.

It is understood gas cylinders are stored at the site while live amunition is stored in an adjacent building.

The fire is on the part of the Asfordby Storage and Haulage site nearest to Melton Mowbray Hospital.

By 11pm 10 pumps and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service's aerial ladder were at the scene and firefighters were using three jets. Two more fire engines later arrived.

Police closed off the junction of Saxby Road and Thorpe Road at Thorpe End and traffic from Granthan was being diverted away form the scene.

Officers reported problems with some members of the public not wanting to stay outside the cordon out of curiosity or a desire to get home.

Our picture was taken by reader Sean Graham at 10.19pm.

More to follow