Part of an Attleborough factory had to be evacuated yesterday when a fork lift truck caught fire.

Fire appliances from Attleborough, Wymondham, Hingham, the aerial ladder platform and a support appliance from Hingham, as well as the water carrier from Hethersett, were called to Banham Poultry, in Station Road, shortly before 1.40pm.

The electric fork lift, which was positioned in a cold storage area, was extinguished within 40 minutes although firefighters did not leave the premises until 6.20pm.

A spokesman for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said the high number of crews were alerted in case the fork lift's battery ignited and they stayed at the site for a prolonged period of time as a precautionary measure.

He added that the storage area was evacuated but most of the factory's staff continued with their work as normal.