FIREFIGHTERS have upped the exclusion zone around the major chemical blaze in Crewe town centre.

Emergency services have increased the zone around the seat of the fire at Aztec Chemicals on the Crewe Gates Industrial Estate from 200 metres to a 600-metre radius.

Cheshire Police are also advising schoolchildren and residents outside the zone, but in the path of the billowing smoke, to stay indoors with doors and windows closed.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "The exclusion zone is purely a cautionary measure due to the volume of smoke.

"We still have no confirmation that the smoke contains anything of toxicity. No casualties have been reported."

There are currently 26 fire appliances at the scene including three from Staffordshire and six special appliances.

The engines are being used to relay water to the incident.

Approximately 80 firefighters are battling the blaze, concentrating on cooling gas cylinders that are close to the building. They will then continue to fight the fire itself.

Following calls from a number worried parents, police are advising people to pick their children up from school as normal.

They have also spoken to head teachers advising them that parents may be delayed because of the gridlocked traffic conditions as a result of the road closures around the incident.