Oil refinery blaze 'biggest for years'

The factory was destroyed by the fire

More than 100 firefighters have tackled a fire which gutted an oil refinery in Worcestershire causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Hereford and Worcester firefighters described the blaze as the biggest they had seen in years.

For three hours ten thousand litres of water a minute were pumped onto the fire by crews from Hereford and Worcester, Warwickshire and West Midlands

Twenty engines were called to the scene at Claymore Lubricants' factory at the Washford Industrial Estate, Hemming Road, Redditch.

Firefighter Matt Cox hoses down

The alarm was raised at 0430 GMT on Monday by residents who heard chemical drums exploding.

At one point, thick black smoke could be seen for miles.

The factory, which contained chemicals, was closed when the fire broke out and no one is believed to have been injured.

Residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed because of the fumes and there were fears that nearby homes may have to be evacuated.

But they were not moved out because the northerly wind blew the smoke away from them.

The factory contained chemicals

Alec Mackie, Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade spokesman, said the incident was the biggest the brigade had seen for some years.

"We had 67 emergency calls to this incident," he said.

"It must have woken up Redditch because we had acetylene cylinders exploding all over the place at one stage."

The plant's owner John Holmes said he was devastated.

"I had a phone call at 0430 GMT and came down here, it was absolutely terrifying, the place is gutted," he said.