The cause of a fire that ripped through a workshop in west Suffolk earlier this month has been revealed by the fire service. 

Firefighters were called to the blaze at the site in Hurdle Drove in West Row, near Mildenhall, at about 11.45am on Wednesday, May 8. 

A total of 15 appliances from Suffolk and Cambridgeshire were sent to the scene of the fire, which involved a 40 by 10 metre workshop that spread to the adjacent building. 

A Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service spokesman has now confirmed that the fire was started accidentally while welding was taking place on a car inside the workshop. 

Police helped with closing nearby roads while firefighters tackled the blaze, and people were being asked to avoid the area if possible.

Thick black smoke could be seen rising into the air in the surrounding area as fire crews tackled the bring the blaze under control.