Flaming awesome ... a 50ft ‘firenado’

THIS is the moment a blazing plastics factory became a 50ft “firenado”.

The dramatic image of the tornado of flame was captured by firefighters tackling the huge blaze at Ravensbourn Plastics in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, which helped Derbyshire and Staffordshire crews tackle the blaze, posted a video of the firenado, or fire whirl, on social media.

A fire whirl is created as cool air enters the top of the hot air, causing a swirl similar to a tornado.

Nobody was injured in the fire but a huge smoke cloud could be seen as far away as Shepshed, Leicestershire, and Nottingham city centre.