Hundreds evacuated after huge explosions at chemical factory

A HUNDRED people were still unable to return to their homes last night after a chemical factory was rocked by massive explosions.

The blasts sent a huge toxic cloud of thick, black smoke drifting over one of the most densely-populated parts of the North-East.

At one point, 500 people were moved from their homes after the explosions and fire at the Distillex plant in North Shields which spread to neighbouring properties.

Although no casualties were reported, homes within half a mile of the plant were evacuated as fireballs and chemical barrels were fire 50ft into the air by the force of the explosions.

Officials from the Health and Safety Executive will begin investigations at the site this morning to determine what caused the blast - and what chemicals may have escaped the factory during the resultant fire.

At the height of the emergency, more than 150 police officers were drafted in to evacuate residents to the nearby Beacon Shopping Centre.

Although most were able to return home last night, 100 were given temporary accommodation by the local council, as a quarter-of-a-mile exclusion zone remained in force.

As the fire raged, north winds sent thick clouds of smoke billowing across the Tyne and residents of South Shields were advised to stay in doors as 18 teams of firefighters battled for six hours to bring under control the massive blaze which could be seen 15 miles away.

Streets were sealed off and the fire brought traffic chaos to the region - with the Tyne Tunnel closed, Metro services curtailed and traffic queues building on all major routes across Tyneside.

Police ordered revellers to stay away from the normally bustling centres of North and South Shields last night.

Witness Steve Thompson, 48, said: "I have never seen anything like it, flames were rushing 150ft into the air.

"Chemical barrels were being blasted into the sky and thick black smoke started pouring up from the plant.

"The smoke was blocking out the sunlight and the town seemed to grow darker."

Alan Walker, 23, of North Shields, said: "The flames were shooting above the town, it was spectacular but frightening."

The fire broke out at the chemical recovery business on East Percy Street shortly before 3pm and is thought to have been caused by an explosion in a skip.

Last night, it was still unclear which chemicals had been released in the blast and subsequent fire - although an ambulance spokesman said that up to 50 toxic substances were stored on the site.

The Food Standards Agency last night issued precautionary advice to householders in North Shields, South Shields and Jarrow.

Fruit and vegetables grown in the area should be washed and peeled because of the danger of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - a potential carcinogen which may have been released during the blaze - and farmers were ordered not to harvest crops for 48 hours after the fire is extinguished.

The local health authority advised anyone suffering persistent skin or eye irritation or chest problems to contact their doctor. A special health helpline has been set up: (01670) 712999.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said the chemicals, which would have been stored in drums, were likely to be mainly solvents.

Distillex takes waste chemicals from industry and separates re-usable products from waste and supplies them back to the industry as raw materials.

Yesterday's fire is the second at the plant this year.