THE clean-up continues at a Poole waste paper recycling plant after a fire swept through the depot.

Site bosses hope they’ll be open by tomorrow, following the blaze which took hold in a few of the facility’s waste bins.

At its height, 30 firefighters worked to stop the fire consuming tonnes of waste paper at the site.

Emergency services were called to the SITA UK depot in Mannings Heath Road, near Tower Park, on Monday evening.

While five pumps were used to bring the blaze under control, surrounding roads were closed off and diversions set up, causing rush-hour traffic tailbacks.

The fire, which caused no injuries and is believed to have started accidentally, also damaged a plant vehicle and the depot building.

Mike Dobson, regional communications manager at SITA UK, told the Daily Echo: “The fire brigade turned up and promptly put out the fire, which was restricted to only a few waste bins within the building.

“Nobody was injured as a result of the fire and an investigation is underway to determine the cause.”

A Bobcat vehicle was damaged in the fire and the baling facility for recycled materials is currently still not operational.

Mr Hobson said: “The site accepts materials for recycling from a variety of sources and we apologise for any short term inconvenience this may cause to our customers.

“We would like to thank the prompt action of the fire crew and the observance and quick reactions of our local employees.”

During the fire, police officers manned diversions while Dorset Fire and Rescue Service battled with the blaze using three main lines, one hose reel jet and 10 breathing apparatus.

The £1million recycling plant takes cardboard and packaging from homes and businesses in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Weymouth and Portland.

The plant was first opened in February 2008.

Up to 5,000 tonnes of cardboard and packaging are handled every month at the centre; the equivalent to the weight of 625 double-deckers buses.

Previously, much of the cardboard was sent to various landfill sites.