Firefighters tackle massive blaze at Birmingham Wholesale Market

Forty firefighters spent more than an hour tackling a fire at Birmingham’s Wholesale Market.

Wooden pallets in one part of the market caught light and one person was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

Roads around the market, near the Bullring shopping centre, were closed and smoke was visible for miles around the city centre.

Crews were called at just before 2.10pm to the blaze on Pershore Street with eight engines attending, as well as paramedics and police.

West Midlands Fire Service said 20% of the building was affected by the fire which they called “severe”.

The fire was out by 3.35pm with crews currently still on site damping down.

Birmingham Wholesale Market covers a 21-acre site with stalls selling meat, fish and poultry, and another section dedicated to horticulture.