FIREFIGHTERS have spent all night battling a blaze at a skip yard in Sydenham.

The fire tore through 50 tonnes of recycling at the site in Kangley Bridge Road and several vehicles including some used for picking up skips were damaged.

Thick smoke from the fire drifted across the nearby railway line causing it to have to be shut down and trains diverted.

Crews from Forest Hill and the surrounding area were called to the scene at around 10pm and at its height the blaze was being fought by around 30 firefighters.

They managed to stop the fire spreading throughout the yard and got it under control within two hours.

Some firefighters remain at the yard and are damping down before a full investigation into the cause will begin.