Firefighters have scrambled to put out a fire near Southampton's Football Club. Plumes of smoke could be seen miles away after the inferno broke out at a disused warehouse perilously close to St Mary's Stadium.

Emergency services have put a cordon in place as eyewitnesses described hearing 'pops' coming from the site - with smoke seen as far away as the Isle of Wight.

Preston North End is due to play Southampton tonight in a crucial promotion-chasing game at the stadium at it's7.45 pm.

The Saints are desperate to win after falling eight points off the top two spots for automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

One eyewitness who recorded the fire and smoke joked: 'Don't worry all you Portsmouth fans, it's not Southampton stadium on fire!'

The fire is in the former Greenhams building on the Central Industrial Estate on Marine Parade.

It backs loudspeaker the park at the rear of the Chapel Stand in the stadium - with 18 fire engines currently in attendance.

Firefighters are on the scene, desperately working to extinguish the flames as warehouse personnel remove stacks of pallets from near the fire - with forklift trucks being used to move them away.

The walls of the warehouse building were seen beginning to fall apart as it was ripped apart by the fire. The roof has collapsed and all the windows were blown out.

Questions remain over whether tonight's match will go ahead - with some away fans already en route.

The BBC reported that a loudspeaker had been heard telling people in the stadium to evacuate, with crowds of staff filing outside.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Crews are currently attending a fire in Marine Parade Southampton. The initial call came in at 13:05.

'Additional fire engines are now heading to the scene to make it up to 18. The fire currently involves four industrial units.

'There is lots of smoke and people in the area are reminded to keep doors and windows closed.'

'Some roads local to the incident are closed and people are advised to avoid the area to allow movements of emergency vehicles.'

Local bus services are being affected as the roads are blocked by emergency services.

The Daily Echo spoke to Nikki Delaney, who was in the area when the factory went up in flames.

She said: 'The flames are high and it's getting worse.

'The heat from the flames is a lot and I'm not even close.'

Children have been evacuated from a primary school due to the fire and smoke.

Pupils at St Mary's Primary were removed from the school after a build-up of smoke over the playground.

They were taken to St Johns Primary and Nursery School on French Street around the build-up and 1:45 p.m. and parents were being asked to pick up their children.