FIREFIGHTERS spent more than 11 hours today dampening down after an accidental fire at an industrial estate in Cwmcarn.

Fire crews from Abercarn, Aberbargoed, Risca and Cwmbran attended the scene at 4.30am at Recycling LTD, a metal management specialist, on the Chapel Farm Industrial Estate.

Around 50 tonnes of steel shavings were 'well alight' according to a spokeswoman from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. A hosereel, a ground monitor, a water bowser and a portable dam were all used to tackle the fire.

Heavy machinery was also used to move the metal to a new location.

An unnamed employee at the recycling firm said a security guard had called the emergency services.

He said: "I've been here since 4.30am this morning. It was all contained in one area.

"There are scrap piles with different metals there but it's all out now and there's no damage."

Residents on Chapel Farm Terrace said they experienced brown water coming from their taps yesterday morning including Terry Davis.

She said: "I was washing the dishes this morning and the water ran brown. My next door neighbour had the same problem so I called the water company and they came out.

"That was the first I heard of the fire when the man from Welsh Water said the fire men had used water from the hydrant."

Simon Thomas, of Twyncarn Terrace, said: "I saw a fire engine at the water hydrant on the main road at about 5.45am when I was coming home from work and a water tender was about at 1.45pm this afternoon."

A water ladder from Aberbargoed and a water bowser from Cwmbran spent todayday dampening down the site and left at 3.59pm.