Huge explosion and fire rip through Essex industrial site

Sam Dimond, owner of event production company Spotlight Sound, said he lost his livelihood in the fire. The headquarters of his business was located on the industrial site.

He said: “It’s basically gone. A lot of people have lost their livelihoods. We’ve got customers that we need to serve, we’ve got employees that have jobs, and right now they don’t have a place of business to go back to.”

Locals reported hearing the explosion on Friday afternoon.

Adrian Walker, 46, from Ashingdon, said: “The ground shook, buildings shook, windows shook, birds flew – and I was 15 miles away.

“I’ve never heard of anything like it. At first I thought the Ministry of Defense in Shoeburyness was testing a new munition, but it was heard and felt for miles.”