NINE fire crews were called to tackle a blaze which took hold of a five-storey factory building in Lifton on Tuesday.

Firefighters were called to Spry Mill just before 11pm and nightworkers at the factory were forced to leave the building.

Two appliances from Launceston were first on the scene and found smoke billowing from the building. They requested an extra appliance from Tavistock to attend.

Within a short period a further appliance from Tavistock was also requested, along with an incident command vehicle and a support pump from Plymouth.

The blaze became so serious a further two pumping appliances from Okehampton and the aerial ladder platform from Crownhill were then requested and mobilised.

Fire in the factory's machinery threatened to spread to upper floors and crews used two main jets and four breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze and bring it under control.

By midnight, firefighters from Callington and Bere Alston were also in attendance.

Firefighters used six breathing apparatus and jets to cool the machinery within the building.

Just after 1am firefighters managed to locate the fire in an animal feed cooler on a mezzanine level and were tackling the blaze through inspection plates within the machinery.

Crews worked throughout the night and by 4.20am the fire was out.

Firefighters used a total of eight breathing apparatus, two main jets, industrial sprinklers, positive pressure ventilation and thermal imaging cameras in their efforts to extinguish the blaze.

The Salvation Army were requested and attended the incident to provide refreshments for the firefighters who had been involved in the protracted incident.

Crews have been working in conjunction with engineers from the company owners to dismantle and damp down the machinery.

One appliance from Tavistock remained at the scene for a further hour damping down the area. Firefighters eventually left the scene by 8am yesterday (Wednesday).

The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.