Foam believed to have been used to fight a major fire in a tyre-shredding plant has been seen floating down the river Wandle.

Up to 50 firefighters have been battling the blaze in the two-storey warehouse, in Purley Way, Croydon, since 1.15am this morning.

The building has been badly damaged and part of the roof has collapsed. There are two acetylene gas cylinders and one propane gas cylinder inside the warehouse, which it is feared could explode.

An exclusion zone is in place around the site and the A23, Purley Way, is closed in both directions between Waddon Way and Edgehill Road.

The fallout from the fire is now being felt by residents in Beddington, who have seen giant pieces of foam, believed to have been used by firefigthers to fight the blaze, floating down the Wandle near Bridges Lane.

These pictures were taken by Madeleine Toole as foam passed by her garden at Mount Pleasant Cottages.

She said: “It’s quite an amazing sight.”