Fire crews from Mid and West Wales Fire Service were called to the Tata Steel plant in Port Talbot, Wales, around 8am, after a blaze ripped through the site
Fire crews from Mid and West Wales Fire Service were called to the Tata Steel plant in Port Talbot, Wales, around 8am, after a blaze ripped through the site
Steelworkers escaped with their lives after a huge explosion ripped through Britain's biggest steelworks plant this morning.

The massive blast - believed to have been caused by a lightning strike - rocked the Tata steelworks in Port Talbot, South Wales, shortly after a shift change at 8am.

Flames could be seen for miles around - and parts of the plant were evacuated as emergency services rushed to the scene.

Onlooker Mike O'Neill said: 'My car shook with the explosion as I drove past. I can see massive 100ft flames.

'There was also a huge plume of black smoke.'



Less than two hours later firefighters announced the blaze was out and no one was hurt.

Nearby resident Pete Thomas said: 'It is amazing that no one was hurt because the explosion was huge.

'We often hear bangs and see fire but this was something else.'

Onlookers reported a huge explosion which sent 100ft flames into the air, followed by a plume of thick black smoke
Onlookers reported a huge explosion which sent 100ft flames into the air, followed by a plume of thick black smoke
Last month Tata announced 750 job cuts at the site, among 1,050 across the UK.

A Tata Steel spokesman said: 'We can confirm that there has been a fire at our Port Talbot coke ovens this morning.

'No one was hurt. Following the necessary safety and operational checks, we will be looking to restart manufacturing operations today.

'Initial investigations suggest a lightning strike led to the fire at the site's coke ovens.'

Dealing yet another blow to the steel industry last month, it was announced Tata Steel was to cut 750 jobs at the UK's largest steel works in Port Talbot, as well as 200 in support functions and 100 at four other mills.

It has been estimated the Port Talbot plant is losing £1 million a week.

The Mid and West Wales Fire Service said it was alerted shortly after 8am to reports of the blaze and six crews were dispatched.

Appliances from Port Talbot, Neath, Morriston and an aerial appliance from Swansea West attended the scene in south Wales.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said: 'I can confirm that the fire has been extinguished and the power supply has been re-established at the plant.

'The crews are beginning to leave but some are staying to monitor the situation should anything escalate.'