Flames light up sky after fire rips through historic Grade II building

A huge blaze is burning through a historic silk mill in Staffordshire, with people told to avoid the area.

Fire crews have battled the flames through the night at The Big Mill on Mill Street, Leek.

The fire was spotted at around 9.22pm, with huge flames and plumes of smoke billowing into the night sky.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service asked people not to drive near the mill as this was ‘making things difficult’ for the crews.

Locals were told to keep windows and doors shut due to smoke.

The mill was empty, but it reportedly had planning permission for being turned into dozens of flats.

The fire service said four engines remained at the scene this morning and that it will be ‘dampening down hotspots for some time.’

Leek residents reacted to the news of the fire on social media.

One said: ‘Hope all crews are safe. Such a shame this building wasn’t renovated years ago as it was a big part of Leek’s history.’

Another person said: ‘Thoughts with the fire fighters and hope they’re all safe.’

The six-storey mill, built in 1857, is part of the town’s industrial heritage and the silk trade.

Its first occupants, Joseph Broster, who later became Wardle and Davenports, pioneered the creation of artificial silk stockings.

The mill was empty for several decades until developers applied for planning permission in 2020.

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