UPDATE: Relief crews arriving at scene of major fire in Skegness

Six crews were called to the building in Health Road when the blaze was reported around 7.20pm.

Police and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue advised residents within 400m of the building in Health Road keep their windows and doors closed and for people to stay away due to toxic fumes from burning plastics and the possibility of asbestos in the air.

Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and two aerial ladder platforms were used to create water towers to fight the blaze.

Scaling down of the operation began at 1am when three crews from Louth, Bardney and Kirton relieved the crews from Skegness, Wainfleet, Spilsby, Alford and Leverton.

The need for breathing apparatus has now ended and the incident has now been scaled down to two pumps, with firefighters from Horncastle and Bardney in the process of relieving crews.

When the fire started, witnesses on social media described smoke billowing across Wainfleet Road making difficult.

They also expressed concern about whether any animals were inside.

Kev Harrison said: “Hope no animals get burnt alive.”

Chloe Percival aid: “Been up there the smoke is really really bad, there was no animals in there they don’t kill over the weekend so was empty.”

Andy Burrows said: “There is a bad stench around the place.”

There has also been some criticism of jokes related to the slaughterhouse.

Adam Newman said: “Love how people think it’s funny, there’s live animals kept in there... I also know all the lads that work there and now there gonna be out of work for a while, how do they pay there rent and bills? Not funny at all.”

The video was taken by Nick Gary.