FIREFIGHTERS worked for almost four hours to help a key Carlisle factory get back to business following a blaze in its biggest industrial oven.

Crews from the city’s East and West Fire Stations were called to McVitie’s, in Church Street, at about 1.15pm yesterday.

Adrian Dargue, Carlisle East watch manager, said the fire was contained in an 80-metre-long industrial oven, on the Bourbon Creams production line.

Firefighters quickly isolated the gas and electric and used four carbon dioxide extinguishers, and a hose reel jet, to put out the fire.

Mr Dargue said temperatures in the oven would have been in excess of 500 C.

The factory was swiftly evacuated and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service helped minimise disruption to the rest of production.

“We made it safe for them to come back in to carry out essential maintenance work,” said Mr Dargue. “It is such a significant business in Carlisle and for us to quickly deal with that and get them back up and running was a credit to everybody involved.”

McVitie's general manager Mike Heaney confirm no one was injured in the fire.

He said: “Our colleagues are all safe and followed safety procedures and necessary precautionary measures were taken.

"The incident was dealt promptly by the fire service and with minimal disruption at the site."

Crews were at the scene for three-and-a-half hours.