Workers were evacuated from a factory in Shannon this afternoon after a fire broke out.

The alarm was raised shortly before 4pm when a machine erupted in flames at the Ohshima plant which specialises in sheet metal fabrication.

There were around 50 staff in the factory at the time however they were quickly evacuated once the automatic fire alarm was activated.

Three units of the fire brigade and gardaí from Shannon responded to the call.

Fire fighters brought the fire under control but remained at the scene for several hours using water to cool the machine.

The worker operating the machine at the time was unhurt while no other worker was injured.

Ohshima operates six plants worldwide including two in Ireland.