AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into a blaze which gutted half a factory at the weekend.

Fire crews battled to control the fire at the premises of Ark International in Forgeside Road, Blaenavon, which was reported at 11.20pm on Saturday night. Nobody is reported to have been injured in the fire.

Five crews from stations in Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale, New Inn, Blaenavon and Abersychan battled for four hours to bring the blaze under control.

Fire investigators were at the scene yesterday to try to ascertain the cause of the incident. Blaenavon councillor Neil Lewis witnessed the blaze and said it was so fierce that it lit up the whole area.

Councillor Lewis said: "I live on the other side of the mountain in Blaenavon, but I could clearly see the flames from where I live - it was just awful.

"I went to look at the factory yesterday morning and I was surprised that it hadn't been completely destroyed because it was one hell of a fire.

"This will be a shock for Blaenavon but the main thing is that nobody was hurt."