Explosion at Wood Flour Mill, Bosley

Cheshire East Council's emergency planning team are working with police, ambulance and fire and rescue services to deal the major incident at Wood Flour Mill, Bosley, requiring people in the immediate vicinity to be evacuated from their homes and business premises.

The mill is in a rural area with only a small number of properties nearby.

Council staff have been on standby to assist with an evacuation, should it become necessary.
Children at a school about a mile from the scene were kept inside the building with doors and windows closed and we are pleased to report that no children have been hurt or affected by the incident.

The school has around 40 pupils and they are due to begin their summer holidays today.

The school is in contact with parents to advise them they can pick up their children at the normal collection time but should allow extra time for their journey as Tunstall Road has been closed.

Power supplies in the area have been affected, with an estimated 29 homes plus the school without electricity. However, the supply is expected to be restored early this evening.

The Council's Adult Social Care Team have been in contact with a small number of vulnerable residents to make sure they are safe.

The emergency services, including Cheshire East Council's emergency planning team, have put a Silver Command response system into play and warnings have been issued to residents in the area to stay in doors and for all pedestrians and motorists to avoid the area. The emergency services estimate that their work will continue into the weekend.

Cheshire East Council's public health team is advising anyone to avoid coming into contact with any smoke from the building and for anyone suffering from asthma to ensure they have their inhaler to hand.

Chemicals and substances from smoke of this nature can cause irritation to the eyes, skin and chest.

Steph Cordon, the Councils' head of communities said: "As a local authority we have a well-rehearsed emergency plan for incidents of this nature and I am pleased to say this has been extremely effective today.

"The emergency services are doing an amazing job and our thoughts are with the injured and those trapped in the building.

"The Council has placed Congleton Leisure Centre on standby and will be providing transport for everyone affected by this. Bed and breakfast accommodation will be offered to all that need it and we are looking to provide this in the best places we can that work for local people.

"We are setting up a 'family and friends' centre, which will be staffed by our social care team, which will provide extra support to people who need it.

"Tunstall Road has been closed and parents at the local primary school are being asked to allow a bit more time for their journey to make sure that they are able to pick their children up on time.

Cheshire Police are asking anyone with concerns for relatives to call 101 and have set up a family meeting point at Congleton Police Station.

Cheshire East Council is to set up a hotline on 0300 1235034 for anyone who has any concerns or queries.

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.