Firefighters expect to be at the scene of a huge fire which destroyed two Maryport businesses, until later this evening.

The incident at Glasson Industrial Estate, where a fire started on Tuesday afternoon, has now been scaled down.

Three fire engines, an aerial ladder platform and some specialist units remain on site.

The crew from Workington planned to be at Glasson Industrial Estate until about 11pm and to then return throughout the night.

Speaking about the blaze - one of the largest in Cumbria in recent years - incident commander Adrian Holme, of Cumbria County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said crews now have it surrounded and are damping down some deep seated pockets of fire.

During the incident, nearby residents were advised to keep their doors and windows closed and to stay out of the smoke plume from the fire.

Cumbria County Council said advice remains in place until Thursday.

Chief fire officer Paul Hancock said: “This was a very severe and extremely challenging fire for our fire crews to deal with, it is certainly one of largest that we have dealt with in West Cumbria for a number of years.

"The incident required a significant and sustained response from our fire fighters, and support of colleagues from Sellafield and other agencies.

“Thankfully no one has been hurt in the blaze and we will now begin the fire investigation work to determine the cause of the fire. Although understandably devastating for the local businesses affected, it does however demonstrate the skill and effectiveness of our fire crews and the importance of a joined up multi-agency approach when dealing with incidents of this scale.”

The A596 from Maryport to Flimby has now reopened and trains are running on the coastal line again but Irish Street and Hutton Place remain closed following the blaze.

Fire and rescue service area manager John McVay confirmed today that Fearon Builders was also devastated in the blaze that destroyed the SIS Pitches warehouse.

He said police are involved as a matter of routine but there was nothing at this stage to suggest the fire was deliberately started.

Businesses and offices on the estate was evacuated.

He added: “This was because of the intensity of the fire but also because we had to cut off electricity to the site.

“We asked residents in the area to keep doors and windows closed because of the smoke plume. We obtained information about the substances that were burning but there was nothing harmful except the dense smoke itself.”

At the height of the fire there were 12 fire engines and upwards of 60 firefighters and officers involved in tackling the blaze.

They came from all over Cumbria including Kendal and Windermere.

Sellafield sent a specialist tender and an aerial ladder and high pressure hoses were used.

Maryport's crew was first on the scene at about 1.30pm and remained until around 1am, returning at 8.30am to damp down the fire.

Mr McVay praised the firefighters for their efforts.

He said the response had been a multi-agency effort with the county council’s highways department, police, the Environment Agency and United Utilities all helping.

SIS Pitches said: "No individuals were injured in the blaze and there are ongoing police investigations into the cause of the fire.

"The nearby factory, which produces the synthetic pitches, has been unaffected and will continue production as normal.

"Production will not be affected. SIS had some yarns stored at the warehouse but they can be quickly and easily replaced. There was some stock that had already been created but it is business as usual."

Bryn Lee, managing director of SIS Pitches, said: "Our highest priority is the safety and well being of our staff and those within the vicinity of the fire and we are thankful that nobody has been injured.

"We pride ourselves on our excellent safety procedures and will be carrying out a full investigation into the cause of the fire.

"The incident was contained within one facility and all other SIS Pitches facilities are in full operation."

About 700 homes and businesses in the town were left without power from about 3pm when the fire damaged an electricity substation.

Most customers were reconnected by 6pm but an Electricity North West spokesman said there were still 21 customers without power this afternoon and the company was working to install generators to restore their electricity.

Anyone with concerns can call Electricity North West by calling 105.