A SKIP hire company is under investigation after a large-scale bonfire caused ‘acrid smoke’ to cover the area.

Residents have been complaining to councillors about fires set at A1 Skips Holme Road site in Clayton-le-Moors in which they claim plastics and carpets are being set alight there, creating a nuisance.

The issue is said to have come to a head when firefighters were called on Tuesday to a bonfire from which residents said ‘acrid smoke’ was covering the area.

A1 Skips however said the fire was not on their land and that the fire was unrelated to their business.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue said the blaze involved 150 square metres of ‘mixed commercial and domestic waste’. The service said a crew of firefighters and Hyndburn Council were called to the site to handle the issue at 11.30am.

The fire service said A1 Skips had already been asked to extinguish the blaze by Environment Agency officers, but that the firm refused to do so, leading the agency to call in the fire service and Hyndburn Council.

The fire was said to been extinguished by a crew from Hyndburn Fire Station, who remained on the scene helping the Environment Agency investigate the incident until 3pm.

Clayton-le-Moors councillor Nick Collingridge said the incident was now being investigated by the Environment Agency.

He said: “Lots of residents have been in touch complaining about issues with fires at the site, however it is a matter for the Environment Agency. I have been in touch with them and they have said they are investigating”.

A resident, who asked not to be named, said: “There had been fires for days, causing thick black smoke and eveyone got fed up. So many people called the Environment Agency about it.”

The Environment Agency confirmed they were investigating A1 Skips over the burning of waste on the site, and the contents of the bonfire.

A spokeswoman said: “We were made aware of problems and our officers did attend the site. They requested the firm put a fire out but ultimately called the fire service to do this. We are currently investigating how they have allowed the burning of waste on their land as their permit does not allow them to do this.”

A spokesman for A1 skips said: “The fire was not on our land and we have been helping the Environment Agency with their enquiries”.