FIRE investigators are today (Thursday) onsite at a historic paper mill after a huge blaze ripped through its wastepaper storage area.

Firefighters were called to Fourstones Paper Mill in South Tyne Mill Road, Hexham, last Thursday after it was hit by flames - which is now believed to accidental.

The paper mill, founded in 1763 and ran by Fourstones Group, which makes toilet rolls among other paper-based items, had to halt production as crews tackled the blaze.

A spokesman for the mill has now confirmed investigations are ongoing as to the cause.

The spokesman added: "The fire service are here to continue controlling the remnants of the fire - obviously it was a significant fire involving a lot of material which takes time to completely dispose of.

"What they're (firefighters) currently doing is the stacks of paper, they're effectively pulling them apart, and then dousing them with water to make sure they're fully extinguished. Nothing odd in that, nothing untoward with that, it's just a normal process in a fire of this type."

Seven fire engines were dispatched to the fire, which broke out at around 1.45pm, and police closed the nearby C234 road.

A Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman confirmed crews were now using water jets on the site to dampen it down.

The service said it could not yet comment on a cause but it was believed to be accidental.

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service was assisted by colleagues from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue as firefighters battled to bring the flames under control. A local farmer also helped to safely remove burnt bales of paper with his tractor.

No injuries were reported and usual operations began the same day.