A THICK black cloud of acrid smoke could be seen across Morecambe and Lancaster as a fierce fire engulfed old chemical storage tanks.

At its height about 25 fire fighters tackled the blaze, spending an hour bringing it under control with foam jets and 170,000 litres of water.

The fire broke out at the former ICI works on Middleton Business Park, Morecambe, at 4.30pm on Sunday.

Sub officer Tim Murrell, of Morecambe's Red Watch, says the fire took hold in three disused chemical storage tanks.

Pallets and plastics sacks had been set alight to ignite the fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately. Heat from the blaze ignited three disused storage tanks close by.

Sub officer Murrell says they burnt fiercely because of the tanks' fibreglass construction, producing a thick, black, acrid smoke plume, which could be seen from Morecambe and Lancaster.

"The person who started the fire has created untold environmental damage involving air and land pollution and necessitated the use of a vast quantity of water.

"The fire is being investigated by fire and police officers who are appealing for help from the community."

A council spokesman said: "We will be investigating the consequences of the incident in order to identify any land contamination that this might have caused."

Anyone with information should contact the police on 01524-63333.