PEOPLE living close to a West Yorkshire waste depot site engulfed by flames have been evacuated as a plume of smoke travelled through the area.
Residents near the Wastecare site in Garforth have been told by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to stay indoors and close all windows.
Guests at the Holiday Inn and several houses in Hawthorn Terrace were evacuated after the fire broke out at the site, West Yorkshire Police said.
More than 100 firefighters were called out to the blaze but a police spokesman said there was "no suggestion" anyone had been hurt in the fire.
The police spokesman said the advice was simply a precaution and added: "There is a smoke plume in the area of Garforth and the fire service is endeavouring to deal with this."
Firefighters were trying to reduce the smoke plume over the Garforth area by using foam on the fire.
All major roads that converge on the Garforth roundabout, including the A63 Selby Road and A642 Wakefield Road, have been closed. Roads are expected to remain closed for 24 hours.
North Yorkshire Police officers also asked people, particularly in the Tadcaster area, to heed the advice as the smoke plume began to head towards them.
A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Water said the public could be reassured there was no contamination of drinking water and the company is working with the Environment Agency in response to the fire.
She said: "We would like to reassure customers in the Garforth area that drinking water supplies have not been affected by the fire at the waste site. However, we are working closely with the Environment Agency to try to prevent any of the run-off from the fire getting into the local beck by tankering water away from the area."
