HEAVY smoke hung over one of Birmingham’s busiest roads after a blaze engulfed a factory.

Streets surrounding Stratford Road, in Sparkbrook, had to be closed off when the fire broke out at the textile business at about 10am yesterday.

Firefighters from across the West Midlands struggled to bring it under control as part of the 30-metre by 80-metre building had also collapsed.

Clouds of smoke could be seen from as far away as the city centre. Ten fire engines and two hydraulic platforms were called out to tackle the flames at the unit belonging to Bandhani/Sitara, near to the junction with Warwick Road.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said Stratford Road was closed between the junction of Walford Road and Durham Road.

Traffic was last night being filtered onto Warwick Road as the closure remained in place.

A demolition crew was due to start work on the site last night.

No one had to be evacuated from the site but people were told to leave neighbouring addresses.