Firefighters are still on scene at Norwich International Airport several hours after a blaze broke out in a hangar and threatened to ignite two aircraft filled with aviation fuel.

A number of appliances will remain at the airport through the night to dampen down and check for hot spots following the fire which resulted in a passenger aircraft having to be removed from the structure earlier this afternoon.

Crews spent much of Sunday taking apart the roof of the hangar and using jets and foam to douse the flames after the blaze spread to the building's ceiling cavities.

The hangar is used by KLM Engineering and Air Livery, and is located on Liberator Road, with a number of shops and other airport hangars nearby.

Crews dismantled one of the aircraft and removed the other from the building amid fears that the fire could spread and ignite the 5,000 litres of aviation fuel they were carrying.

Around 75 firefighters are at the scene, with fresh crews being brought in throughout the day.

Earlier a spokeswoman for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said teams were making 'good progress' in tackling the blaze.

A spokesman for Norwich International Airport said: 'The fire is being controlled by the fire services, and is taking place in an Air Livery hangar. The airport and services are not affected.'

Firefighters were alerted at 9.43am and after they first arrived said there were contingency plans to remove the planes if necessary, although they added that any attempt would be difficult because of scaffolding around the building.

By mid-afternoon, they put the plan into action.

The other plane was dismantled, and will remain in the building.

As the operation continued into the afternoon, the service started to call in fresh crews to relieve those who had been there the longest.

It is not believed anyone was hurt in the incident.

Did you see what happened, or have any photos? Email martin.george@archant.co.uk