‘Casualties and five trapped’ in wood works blast

Four people are missing after two explosions and a fire at a wood mill in Bosley, Cheshire, say police.

Cheshire East Council initially reported that five people were trapped.

“A further 35 people have also been assessed at a triage unit set up on scene by ambulance staff. None of these were injured and have been discharged on scene”.

“I got a call from my mum who works at Bosley Schoool, and they’d had a visit from the police who told them there’d been a major incident and everyone should keep their windows and doors shut because of the smoke”.

People living nearby are being advised to close their windows and doors because of smoke coming from the site, south of Macclesfield.

Tunstall Road in Bosley was closed following the incident, police said, and they warned that traffic on the A523 might be delayed.

A total of 23 fire engines have been at the scene as crews battled to bring to blaze under control – 12 from Cheshire, 9 from Greater Manchester, 1 from Derbyshire and 1 from Staffordshire.

Some have posted photos on Twitter of th aftermath of the blast.

Fifteen fire engines are at the scene.

Local resident Charlotte Maher told Sky News: “We felt two vibrations here”.

Student Charli Alston, 18, was walking her dog with a friend when she witnessed the explosion at shortly after 9am.

“When I went outside you could see the huge pall of smoke and the flames leaping up from down near the works”, he told the BBC.

A North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust spokesman said it was still too early to confirm the number of casualties.

Four people have been taken to hospital for treatment – one is described as being in a serious condition.

“We looked over and there were massive plumes of flames”. It was a very deep loud bang and I instantly thought it was a big quake.

A paramedic area support officer, a senior paramedic officer, Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) paramedics, a community paramedic, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with a MERIT trauma doctor on board, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Tatenhill, an emergency preparedness manager and two ambulances were sent to the scene. Emergency services have been seen at the scene, in Tunstall Road. However, the “vast majority” of staff at the factory are believed to be safe.