FIREFIGHTERS tackled a major fire at Southampton docks.

Crews had to fight back flames at Dock Gate 10 in West Bay Road after reports of a major container blaze at 12.25pm today.

Around 14 firefighters were called to the scene with two crews from St Mary’s and one from Redbridge.

Dock workers joined forces with firefighters to put out a blaze which started on a container stacking vehicle.

The vehicle was completely incinerated by the fire and crews spent over half an hour putting out the flames.

It happened next to Southampton Docks on an off-site container storage depot owned by Pentalver.  

Adam Lee works for Direct Janitorial Supplies and was near Dock gate 10 when the blaze started, he said: “The smoke was really intense, thick and black. I went outside to have a look and I thought initially it was a pump on fire.

"The smoke was so thick I could not see what was actually on fire. The smell was almost toxic and not very pleasant so I had to go back inside.”

Adam said there were a few other people watching outside who had called emergency services.

Firefighters managed to put out the blaze by 1.20pm and have now made sure the area is safe.

An ABP spokesman said: “We can confirm firefighters were called to an incident at the Pentalver yard in the Western Docks. The equipment fire has been dealt with and normal operations have resumed.”

A spokeswoman from Pentalver said there were no causalities and only the vehicle was damaged.