PEOPLE living near a scrap yard in Lydney were warned to stay indoors after a 30-feet high pile of cars caught fire.

The Review was the only newspaper to get a photographer to the scene at Bendalls in Harbour Road after a fire started in the yard at around 10.40am on Thursday.

Firefighters from Lydney, Coleford, Chepstow, Cirencester, Gloucester, Stroud and Cheltenham fought the blaze, which appears to have started in the yard.

Incident Commander Steve Bateman said: "This was a well developed fire on an industrial site. The pile of cars measures 30 metres by 60 metres by 10 metres high."

At the height of the blaze 10 fire engines, two aerial appliances, a high-volume pump, the environmental protection unit were on the scene.

No evacuations were necessary but the Health Protection Agency advised residents affected by the smoke to stay inside and keep doors and windows shut.

Anyone with medical concerns was advised to call their doctor or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Sightings of the smoke from the blaze were reported from Bream, Newnham and Chepstow.

The road was closed to cars and lorries from Lydney railway station and traffic was diverted through Lydney golf club.

The fire was under control but not fully out by Thursday afternoon.