FIREFIGHTERS are still tackling a blaze at a recycling plant near the A414/St Albans Road.

As the result of smoke from a fire at a wood recycling plant on Appspond Lane, Potters Crouch, St Albans (adjacent to the A414 St Albans Road), two nearby roads are closed for the safety of the public.

A spokeswoman for Herts county council (HCC) said roads closed are:

• A414 St Albans, both ways between A405 Park Street roundabout and M1 J7.

• A4147 Hemel Hempstead Road St Albans, both ways between King Harry Lane and A414 Breakspear Way.

It is anticipated that the road closures could remain in place until mid-week.

The following diversion route is in place: A414 St Albans Road, A414 Two Waters Way, A41 Watford Road, A41 Gadeside, A405 North Orbital Road.

Expect heavy congestion in Hemel Hempstead and St Albans throughout the duration of the closures.

A fire crew from Hemel Hempstead was called to the scene at midnight on Saturday night November 10.

Since then crews have been working hard tackling a deep-seated fire in a very large pile of recycled timber.

The HCC spokeswoman said: “It is normal for a fire of this scale to take days, or even weeks, to extinguish.

“The Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is working closely with the Environment Agency, St Albans district council, Highways Agency and HCC.”

Fire crews from Watford, Wheathampstead, Redbourn, Hatfield and Royston are still on the scene (Monday), along with the Incident Support Unit from Hitchin.

Firefighters from Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Hitchin, Kings Langley, Redbourn, Ware, Berkhamsted, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Rickmansworth, Borehamwood, Watford, Potters Bar, Bushey, Wheathampstead, Hatfield, Garston and Royston have attended, as well as the aerial ladder platform from Stevenage and high volume pump from Welwyn Garden City.

Updates from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue are available on Twitter - @HertsFRSControl and information on road closures can also be found on Twitter - @Herts_Highways