A man has been arrested in connection with a fire that devastated industrial sites and caused major traffic disruption.

The 68-year-old man from Welwyn Garden City is now in custody in connection with the blaze, which began in Dancers Hill Road in Potters Bar.

The fire, which began in a clump of trees yesterday afternoon, is still burning.

A 1,000l diesel tank is still alight and a fire crew is damping down a number of rubbish fires that are still smouldering.

Fire crews worked late into the night monitoring the blaze.

By 10pm the fire was under control and crews had started the damping down process.

The blaze, which began about 3.30pm yesterday, spread rapidly, meaning large areas had to be evacuated.

Cars and buildings on industrial estates in the area were damaged.

Fire crews from all Hertfordshire and the London Fire Brigade tackled the blaze, which took 12 pumps to control.

There was major traffic disruption as smoke spreading from the fire meant police had to close the M25 at J23 Eastbound and J24 Westbound.

It was reopened at approximately 7pm, and all other road closures were lifted in the early hours of this morning.

Hertfordshire Fire Chief Roy Wilsher praised the crews who worked to tackle the blaze in hot and humid weather.

He said: “Great stop by crews working very hard in arduous conditions with poor water supplies to start with."

The investigation into the cause of the fire continues.