Fire crew finally leave

Firefighters have finally been able to leave the scene of a blaze at a derelict freezing works in Auckland, more than a week after it started.

The remaining crew at the scene of the fire at the old Southdown works in the industrial suburb of Penrose were given the message to leave about 10am yesterday.

Crews had been at the scene since December 20.

The inferno was described as one of the biggest in Auckland for many years.

It was thought to be suspicious but fire investigators said that, because of the damage, the cause might never be found.