FIVE agricultural lorries containing 50 tonnes of cardboard were severely damaged following a fire at a Brynmawr industrial estate early yesterday.

The blaze broke out at around midnight at the Blaenant Industrial Estate, with firefighters taking three hours to put it out.

They were then on the scene damping down until yesterday afternoon as an investigation took place to determine whether or not it had been deliberately set.

The yard affected belongs to A Lewis Skips, with the five lorries, each 40 foot long, charred as well as the 50 tonnes of compressed cardboard that was inside them.

South Wales Fire and Rescue received a call at midnight, with crews from Blaenavon, Brynmawr, Blaina and Cwmbran tackling it.

While they had mainly left by 3.15am, relief crews were on site until 2.30pm yesterday (Thursday).

One of the relief firefighters was Dean Roberts from the Blaenavon Station. He said: “It was around 50 tonnes of compressed cardboard that was burnt and we’ve been taking it in turns through the night to make sure there aren’t any hotspots left and it doesn’t catch anything else alight.”

A South Wales Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said that fire investigators were due to visit the site yesterday evening – to look into the cause.

Gwent Police confirmed the force had been notified that a number of vehicles were on fire and that it was waiting for notification from investigators whether or not it was suspicious.