Huge blaze causes traffic chaos in Sheffield

Firefighters have been forced to retreat from St Philips Social Club on Daisy Walk, Netherthorpe after the discovery of hydrochloric acid inside the burning building.

Police have closed one side of Netherthorpe Road, the dual carriageway heading towards the Brook Hill roundabout.

The fire was reported at 3.30am, and when crews arrived flames were around 40 metres high.

The plume of thick black smoke could be seen for miles, and was affecting visibility for rush hour traffic into Sheffield along the Parkway.

Residents in the Atlantic One flats complex on Radford Street were evacuated from their homes and the city centre was filled with a smell of smoke as early morning workers and commuters arrived.

At the height of the blaze, around 40 firefighters surrounded the building to douse the flames with water jets. An aerial ladder platform was also used to tackle the flames from above.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze is underway.

A number of roads in the ares remain closed, including Netherthorpe Road, Radford Street and Meadow Street.