TRAFFIC is being held up as a burning electricity pole is tackled.

Shortly after 3pm, firefighters were called to the junction of Silver Street with Frome Road to tackle the pole fire, which had 11,000 volts coursing through it.

Whilst the firecrews shot pulses of water to manage the situation, traffic in three directions grew to more than a mile long and the area is still very slow going. 

Watch manager at Trowbridge Fire Station, Guy Tadman, said: "We are keeping it under control but we cannot put it out until the Southern Electricity Board to get here.

"We have two pumps and covering jets to handle it. We have isolated it to make it safe for nearby residents, who have been told to stay indoors until this is over."

David Crump, of Frome Road, said: "It was like a fire display with horrible sulphurous fumes. The flames were four-five metres high and there was quite toxic smoke. It did not burn for very long but it has caused a lot of trouble with all this traffic."