A RECYCLING boss fears that piles of tyres in an industrial site could cause one of the worst fires in Middlewich’s history.

Gary Cronnolley, managing director of Manga-Fu, told the Guardian that tyres and other waste has been mounting up at a premises in Aston Way, Midpoint 18 business park, for around a month.

Mr Cronnolley, whose waste management company has dealings with tyre recycling, said: “Thousands of tyres left unattended with no security is a disaster waiting to happen.

“It's a public eyesore and an attraction for teenager's with nothing better to do except play around there.

“Should somebody throw a lit cigerette onto the shredded tyres, chances are they would go up in flames causing one of the worst fires in Middlewich's history to erupt.

“Black smoke would cover the area for miles and even worse, it would take months to put it out.”

Signs indicate that the site belongs or belonged to the business SITR but the Guardian was unable to make contact with the company.

Nevertheless, the Environment Agency confirmed that the site has a permit to store and treat waste tyres.

Spokesman Marianne Webb said that representatives from the Government agency regularly visit the site.

They are also working with the site operator to ensure the rules of the permit are kept to.

Ms Webb added: “Anyone who stores and treats waste tyres must have the correct environmental permit in place to operate.

“The permit places specific conditions on operators which includes storage and security arrangements on site.

“The Environment Agency is available to provide any operator with advice and guidance, to ensure they are operating within the law.”

There is also a recycling business with the same name in Middlewich Road, Holmes Chapel, but a spokesman said the two sites are not affiliated.

Tyre fires are known to cause devastation. More than 2,000 tonnes of rubber recently set alight at a tyre shredding factory in Cambridgeshire and took seven weeks to extinguish.