Emergency services rush to Walkers Crisps factory in Leicester after huge fire breaks out

Firefighters are battling a large blaze at the Walkers Crisps factory in Leicester after hundreds of staff were forced to evacuate the building.

Nine fire crews were called to tackle the inferno, which broke out at the 60m x 30m unit in Beaumont Leys at 10.43am today (Fri).

The alarm was raised when workers at the site reported that the building was "filling with smoke" and around 40 firefighters rushed to the scene.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We received a call from the site stating that the factory filling with smoke, with the roof possibly on fire."

The fire service confirmed there had been no reported casualties.