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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| 'Large' blast at trading estate | 'Large' blast at trading estate |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A fire has broken out after a "large explosion" at a chemical plant on a Berkshire trading estate. | A fire has broken out after a "large explosion" at a chemical plant on a Berkshire trading estate. |
| Emergency services were alerted following the blast at the rubber factory on the Slough Trading Estate. | Emergency services were alerted following the blast at the rubber factory on the Slough Trading Estate. |
| Most employees were in a meeting at the other end of the building and escaped injury, but one person is thought to have been hurt by flying glass. | |
| Police are treating it as a non-suspicious chemical explosion, and are investigating with the fire service. | Police are treating it as a non-suspicious chemical explosion, and are investigating with the fire service. |
| The Health and Safety Executive has also begun its own probe. | The Health and Safety Executive has also begun its own probe. |
| Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman Nicole Targett said: "It was quite an explosion. Metal panels were blown out across the road into the car park opposite and the force smashed windows of other premises nearby. | Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman Nicole Targett said: "It was quite an explosion. Metal panels were blown out across the road into the car park opposite and the force smashed windows of other premises nearby. |
| "All the people inside were at the other end of the building at a meeting when the explosion went off. | "All the people inside were at the other end of the building at a meeting when the explosion went off. |
| Slough Trading Estate was made famous in the BBC series The Office | Slough Trading Estate was made famous in the BBC series The Office |
| "If they had been at the factory end then it could have been a lot more serious and I am sure there would have been [more] casualties. | "If they had been at the factory end then it could have been a lot more serious and I am sure there would have been [more] casualties. |
| "The sound of the explosion was heard for miles around. | "The sound of the explosion was heard for miles around. |
| "The factory processes rubber for industrial uses and there are chemicals on site but we don't know yet whether they were involved in the explosion." | "The factory processes rubber for industrial uses and there are chemicals on site but we don't know yet whether they were involved in the explosion." |
| More than 30 firefighters were called to the scene at Eastbourne Road shortly before 1000 GMT to tackle the fire which is now "under control". | More than 30 firefighters were called to the scene at Eastbourne Road shortly before 1000 GMT to tackle the fire which is now "under control". |
| An eyewitness told the BBC they could see "lots of smoke and activity of emergency services personnel". | An eyewitness told the BBC they could see "lots of smoke and activity of emergency services personnel". |
| Puneet Jindle, who works near the estate, said: "I'm located in Windsor, in the Centrica building, so a few miles away, but we still heard the bang and saw a plume of smoke coming from Slough. | Puneet Jindle, who works near the estate, said: "I'm located in Windsor, in the Centrica building, so a few miles away, but we still heard the bang and saw a plume of smoke coming from Slough. |
| "It's near the power station as far as we could tell. It was fairly large but dispelled quite quickly." | "It's near the power station as far as we could tell. It was fairly large but dispelled quite quickly." |
| Thames Valley Police said: "The area has been cordoned off and road closures are in place. Motorists are being urged to avoid the area." | Thames Valley Police said: "The area has been cordoned off and road closures are in place. Motorists are being urged to avoid the area." |
| The 462-acre business park was made famous as the location for the BBC television comedy series The Office. | The 462-acre business park was made famous as the location for the BBC television comedy series The Office. |
| Are you in the area? Did you witness what happened? Send in your eyewitness accounts by completing the form below. | Are you in the area? Did you witness what happened? Send in your eyewitness accounts by completing the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
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