A MASSIVE factory fire forced about ten people to be evacuated and is still burning now more than four hours after it started.

It is believed the blaze broke out at an old biodiesel factory.

Firefighters were called at about 8.40am to Midhurst Road, Park Royal.

Workers from a building company and two tennants of a flat both attached to the burning building were forced to flee, along with staff from a nearby Chinese dumpling factory.

Migle Backovaite and her friend who live in the flat, converted from a warehouse, took her cat Miauksis and all the possessions they could carry fearing the fire could spread to their home.

She said: "I heard something burning, went out onto the terrace and saw the massive fire.

"Everyone was running around. I was afraid there was going to be an explosion. It was really stressful."

Ms Backovaite, who only moved in a few weeks ago, said her home and the building company are the only occupants of the burning industial unit. The rest of the firms have already moved out as it is set to be demolished.

A large crowd of onookers had gathered to watch the fire which is sending a thick, black plume of smoke that can be seen for miles around. Many were taking pictures and one described the scene as ‘like a warzone’.

Firefighters used a cherry picker to douse the top of the blaze which has damaged half the ground floor and the roof of the large, two-storey building.

About 80 firefighters and 12 fire engines were needed at the blaze’s height and many are still battling to stop it spreading to other buildings.

Station Manager Dan Hallissey who is at the scene said: "About 10 people have been evacuated as a precaution from nearby homes. There is a lot of thick black smoke in the local area so we’re asking nearby residents to close their doors and windows."

The cause of the fire is unknown.