Sprinkler saves Veolia recycling centre in Oswestry

A sprinkler system at a recycling plant saved it from being destroyed by fire last night. The blaze broke out at the Veolia recycling centre at Mile Oak Industrial Estate, Oswestry.

Fire crews were called at about 6.30pm, but within minutes the sprinkler system triggered and prevented the fire from taking hold.

John Griffiths, for Shropshire Fire and Rescue, said: "Fortunately Veolia have a sprinkler and it stopped the fire. It was a godsend. Without it we would have been here a long time."

Phil Lucas, performance manager at Veolia, said the system was fitted when the centre opened in 2009.

"To replace that building would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds."

Fire crews from Oswestry, Ellesmere and Shrewsbury ventilated the building and damped down the fire with the help of Veolia staff.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but is not thought to be suspicious.