A MAPPLEWELL factory has been gutted after a fire broke out early on Monday.

The blaze started in the basement of the Denby Dale Shirt Company, on Spark Lane, and ripped through the building at around 3am .

It spread to the ground floor and then to the first floor, ruining over a quarter of the building and most of the sewing machines.

The blaze soon turned into an inferno on all three floors and police closed the road as 20 fire-fighters tried to control the flames.

Neighbours said the first they knew about it was waking up to loud thudding noises and flashing blue lights.

"It was about 4am and we could hear this thudding and crashing noise, and the sound of glass breaking.

"When we looked out the window, there were fire engines everywhere and the factory was going up in flames. We didn't quite believe what was happening."

Two fire engines from Royston, two from Barnsley and one from Tankersley were there along with a support unit from Sheffield because of the size and severity of the fire.

Fire-fighters used breathing apparatus and were at the scene for more than four hours until it was put out at 7.30am.

The factory was still in use and the Chronicle understands the director of the company, Charles Mallinson, is on holiday.