A MAJOR blaze at a tyre-recycling facility was started deliberately, Police Scotland have said.

The fire in Renfrew caused clouds of thick black smoke over the city.

About 75 firefighters were called to the Meadowside Street site following reports of the blaze late on Thursday evening.

Local residents were advised to keep their windows and doors firmly shut after a large ­quantity of tyres stored at the site went up in flames.

About 30 firefighters remained at the scene yesterday.