FIREFIGHTERS are tackling a large fire at a children's nursery.

Five appliances were called to reports of a fire in a commercial building on Dalton Court in Sandbach at around 6am this morning.

On arrival crews found a fire on the first floor of brick built building measuring approximately 15 metres by 20 metres.

Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus,initially entered the building and used two hose reel jets to tackle the fire.

Crews are also using three main jets to help extinguish the fire from outside the building which is currently occupied by a children's nursery.

An aerial appliance and thermal imaging camera are also being used by firefighters to help locate any hotspots in the roof space of the property.

Crews from Sandbach, Middlewich, Holmes Chapel and two from Crewe along with an aerial appliance from Macclesfield are at scene.

At 11am, firefighters said they have made good progress and the majority of the fire has now been extinguished.

Crews are no longer using breathing apparatus, although they are continuing to use hose reel jets to dampen down inside the building.

Firefighters are also using a hydraulic platform and removing roof tiles to help extinguish any hotspots within the roof space.

The A533 Middlewich Road remains closed both ways closed. There is  very slow traffic due to the building fire from Grange Way to St Peter's Rise. The road remains closed past the Co-Op.

An update this evening said firefighters used hose reel jets to dampen down to ensure the fire did not reignite.

The crews also used thermal imaging cameras to check for any hotspots.

Following investigations firefighters believe that the cause of the fire is accidental.

All crews left the scene at approximately 6.30pm and Middlewich Road has now reopened.