River used to fight massive blaze

The contents of the smoke is being monitored. Picture by Peter Kemp

Water is being drawn from the River Clyde in a bid to tackle a fire at a scrap metal merchants in Renfrewshire.

About 80 firefighters are trying to control the blaze, which broke out at Christie & Son in Renfrew on Tuesday.

A firefighting tug has been called in and rescue boats are on standby to safeguard crews at the dock's edge.

A plume of smoke from the site can be seen drifting for several miles near Glasgow. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

On Tuesday, emergency services said the massive pall of black smoke was being created by a deep-seated fire in a 30ft mountain of mangled scrap metal.

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Reader's video of the scrapyard fire. Sent in by Peter MacDiarmid

Heavy lifting diggers were called in to gouge out large quantities of metal from the immediate area on fire.

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service said "scientific advisors" were "monitoring the contents of the smoke for harmful substances".

It said this would continue until the blaze was extinguished and the public would be notified of any risk.

Anyone concerned about the effects of smoke was advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has also been notified about the situation.