FIREFIGHTERS tackled a severe blaze which started in an old oil drum oil at a Halesowen tyre fitting company and spread to part of the roof.

Tuesday’s fire at Kwik Fit, Long Lane, caused “considerable” damage but no-one was hurt.

Staff have been transferred to the town’s Mill Lane branch and customers are being served there until the premises can be re-opened.

Two crews from Oldbury, using breathing equipment, tackled the blaze started in an old 100l oil drum used as a waste bin for scrap metal.

A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said several similar bins had to be cooled down, a tyre compressor was also affected and 10 per cent of the garage roof was destroyed.

A Kwik Fit spokesman said: “The damage at the Long Lane centre is considerable but we will be working quickly to get back up to full speed.

“In the meantime, staff have transferred to our Mill Lane centre and customers are being served there. We would ask any customers who are booked in for an appointment to call us on 0121 559 2560 to confirm their time slot.”.

Part of Long Lane near the Green Lane junction was closed during the incident.