Disused buildings engulfed by fire

Emergency services attended a large fire in Pegs Lane last night, with black smoke visible across the town and from as far away as Buntingford.

Surrounding roads were closed whilst fire services tackled the blaze in outbuildings behind Leahoe House in the grounds of County Hall.

Six fire appliances attended the fire, whilst the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service advised nearby residents to keep doors and windows closed.

The fire was extinguished around 8pm, with some crews remaining at the scene to damp down and check for hot spots.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

A recent report commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council said the Leahoe site has the potential to deliver a residential-based redevelopment scheme. HCC officers have been engaging with the market to identify a development partner capable of bringing forward a successful redevelopment scheme, with Cala Homes identified as a potential buyer for the site.