A farm fire on the outskirts of Chester has left clouds of black smoke visible across the city.

The fire broke out at Tile Farm, run by the Arden family, on Wicker Lane in Guilden Sutton at 2pm today.

Twelve appliances have been sent to the scene and Cheshire Police closed Wicker Lane while the blaze is being tackled.

Fire engines have been sent from Chester, Tarporley, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn and Frodsham.

The hazardous materials unit and a supporting fire engine have arrived from Warrington while the high volume pump and a supporting fire engine have been sent from Congleton.

When they arrived crews were confronted with a fire involving a diesel tanker and two buildings.

They fought the fire with hose reels and main water jets. A foam tanker was also sent to help deal with the incident.

Farm machinery has been moved to safety.

The farm building - about 150 metres by 80 metres in size - is well alight.

Police are also attending the incident.

The Arden family have been farming since the late 1950s, starting out on a smallholding at Church Farm in Christleton with a small dairy herd and poultry. 

They moved to Tile Farm in Guilden Sutton in 1996 concentrating on growing potatoes, fodder beet, wheat, barley, field beans, oil seed rape and grass.