THE stench of acrid smoke filled the air as a massive fire's effects were felt in the borough.

Although the blaze was on an industrial estate in Slade Green, Bromley residents could view a plume of black smoke which climbed 200ft in the air.

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Business owners allowed back into the Darent industrial estate off Ray Lamb Way, Slade Green, on Sunday, following the blaze last Thursday afternoon.

The remaining three fire crews finally left the 15-acre estate, which lies between the River Thames and Crayford Marshes, just before midnight on Sunday.

One businessman described the scene in Maypole Crescent as "horrific".

He said several businesses, including M&S Breakers, where the fire is believed to have started, were completely destroyed in the blaze.

And it is believed the yards of three adjacent companies were destroyed - a packaging company, a chemical yard and one belonging to Erith Haulage, where the offices, workshop and several lorries were lost.

A tyre business next to the scrapyard, where £100,000 of tyres were being stored, was lucky to escape any damage.

Up to 70 businesses were evacuated, including businesses in Ness Road and Landau Way.

At its height 75 firefighters were battling the blaze, which could be seen from Essex.

A number of propane gas cylinders exploded and a 200m exclusion zone was put in place after two acetylene cylinders were discovered in danger of exploding.

Firefighters were pumping water from hydrants on the estate and from Manor Road, Erith, to try and quench the flames.

People in the Slade Green area were left with just a trickle of water as water pressure in the area dropped.

Even the businesses not damaged by the fire have lost thousands of pounds because of the enforced closure.

One specialist lift company estimates it lost £10,000 for each day its premises remained off limits.

Estate manager Mick Kelly, 64, who was allowed back on the site on Friday by the emergency services, said he had been inundated with calls from frantic owners trying to find out if their businesses had survived the blaze.

He has also stepped up security on the site as thieves homed in on the estate hoping to cash in on the incident.

The cause of the fire is now under investigation.