Fire investigators still do not know the cause of the fire at a recycling site, but believe it to be accidental.

Eight fire engines were at Chatham Docks at the height of the incident on Tuesday night, prompting residents on nearby St Mary’s Island to be told to keep their windows and doors closed because of the smoke.

The advisory was lifted after operations were completed shortly before 7pm on Wednesday – almost 24 hours after the alarm was raised.

However, crews will continue to visit the site to ensure all hot spots are dampened.

In an update today, a fire service spokesman said: “The cause is not yet known but is believed to be accidental.”

A water safety unit was also part of the firefighting team and crews wearing breathing apparatus used main jets to extinguish the flames.

A fire service spokesman confirmed earlier this week that no injuries had been reported.