FIREFIGHTERS from Chepstow were among more than 60 from south Wales and Gloucestershire called to a huge blaze at Lydney last week.

Thick black smoke from a blazing, 30-feet high pile of scrap cars on an industrial estate could clearly be seen from Chepstow, nearly 10 miles away.

Rumours about the cause of the smoke – including a plane crash – were quickly circulating in Chepstow.

Fire crews from across the area were called to Bendall's scrap merchants in Harbour Road, Lydney at about 10.40am on Thursday.

The blaze was eventually put out on Saturday afternoon.

Our sister paper The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Review was the only paper on the scene shortly after the first fire engines arrived.

See this week's paper – free to 46,000 homes in the Wye Valley and Forest – for full story and dramatic pictures.