A major fire at an Attleborough factory housing gas cylinders and chemicals shut down train services and affected locals.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service are in attendance at a fire that started just after 9am in Maurice Gaymer Road. 

Appliances from Attleborough, Hingham, North Earlham, Carrow, Thetford, Dereham, Sprowston, Wymondham and Hethersett were deployed and crews stayed on scene until receiving their stop message at 1.13pm.

Kirsty Blackburn, who lives nearby, could see the smoke billowing from the factory.

Surrounding businesses were evacuated, with witnesses praising the efficiency of the emergency services.

Attleborough Town Council offered refuge to those in the area at the Town Hall.

Nearby houses have been affected by the major fire (Image: Contributed)

Greater Anglia issued a statement alerting customers that trains going through or to Attleborough will be cancelled, delayed or revised until further notice.

READ MORE: Attleborough trains cancelled after factory on fire

Train services to Thetford from Norwich were also affected but returned mostly to normal by the afternoon. 

Emergency services are dealing with the incidentEmergency services are dealing with the incident (Image: Contributed)

Norfolk Police were also on scene assisting fire crews and are advising people living nearby to close their windows and doors due to the smoke.