Tonnes of waste is on fire at a waste cycling plant on the Dagenham border with Havering.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Smoke from the fire at Shanks waste recycling plant in Rainham can be seen across Havering. Picture courtesy of Jack Stallibrass.Smoke from the fire at Shanks waste recycling plant in Rainham can be seen across Havering. Picture courtesy of Jack Stallibrass. (Image: Archant)

Firefighters were called to the scene at 9.50am, where there is 100 tonnes of waste alight, which the London Fire Brigade says is equivalent in weight to “40 white rhinoceros”.

“The stench is rancid” says a man nearby the fire taking place at the waste recycling plant, Shanks, in Creek Way, on the Dagenham border with Havering.

James Green, 37, of Rainham, said: “I work on the industrial estate near by and all you can see is smoke.

“It’s probably about 100 feet high and the smell is unbelievably horrible. The stench is rancid.”

Barking and Dagenham Post: A fire is still being tackled, around seven hours after the fire at Shanks' waste recycling plant started. Picture courtesy of James Green.A fire is still being tackled, around seven hours after the fire at Shanks' waste recycling plant started. Picture courtesy of James Green. (Image: Archant)

There are now 12 engines and over 80 firefighters and officers who are taking water from the Thames, in order to fight the household waste fire.

Do you know anything else?

Call Hayley on 0208 477 3719 or email hayley.anderson@archant.co.uk.

Fire at Rainham waste cycling plant

Update: Tonnes of waste on fire at Rainham waste cycling plant equivalent to weight of ‘40 white rhinoceros’