A huge fire has broken out at a site near an airfield in Suffolk.

Explosions have been reported at the scene of Parham Airfield and enormous clouds of dark smoke can be seen from miles away.

Early reports suggest the blaze started when equipment overheated during a manufacturing process at a fibreglass moulding plant.

Those nearby have been asked to keep doors and windows closed because of the volume of smoke coming from the incident.

Fifty firefighters from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene shortly after 9:43am on Thursday to find a large, single-storey factory, measuring approximately 50m x 80m, on fire.

The building houses equipment used in the production of fibreglass moulding and its age could mean asbestos is present, the service said.

A spokesperson said crews have now surrounded the fire and there are no casualties. Ten engines remain at the scene near Framlingham.

The spokesperson added: “We understand from workers that the cause of the fire may have been due to some overheating during their manufacturing process.

“However, we will be carrying out a fire investigation when it safe to do so, to identify the cause.”

The service tweeted: “Our crews are currently attending a fire at a premises near Parham Airfield.

“Due to the amount of smoke in the area, local residents and businesses are advised to keep doors and windows closed.”

A witness said she had “never seen a fire like it”.

“By the time I happened to be passing, just after 10am, the fire was absolutely blazing through the roof of what looked like an original Second World War building,“ she told East Anglican Daily Times.

“It looked like it had an asbestos roof and was very close to the control tower museum.

“There were two massive explosions and in one a flaming barrel flew high into the air.

“Someone from a nearby farm said there was apparently a large amount of resin stored in the building.”