Residents and staff from two factory premises were evacuated after a fire at a chemical gas plant this morning.
The alert followed an explosion of an oxy-acetylene cylinder, which then caught fire, at the BOC premises in Barley Mow, Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, at around 7.30am.
Appliances from both Durham and neighbouring Tyne and Wear fire brigades were dispatched to the scene, and Vigo Lane, either side of the factory, was closed to traffic.
Staff at both BOC, formerly the British Oxygen Company Ltd., and next door Arizona Chemicals were evacuated as were residents in Bedford Avenue, which is within 300-metres of the plant.
Durham Police said there were no reports of any injuries, but the action was being taken as a precaution in case of further explosions to other cylinders.
No-one was available at the BOC plant to comment.
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