RESIDENTS spoke of hearing an explosion “like a bomb” at Grosvenor Chemicals that shook their homes.

Carly Middleton, 22, and her six-year-old son Connor live on Manchester Road a few hundred yards from the site of the explosion at the firm in Lees Mill Lane at Linthwaite.

She said: “I heard the first bang between 1am and 1.30am but I thought it was just a firework so I ignored it. But the second bang, at 3.30am, sounded like someone had dropped a bomb. The blast vibrated my house.

“I looked out my back window and I could see all this fire and smoke. I was worried because we’re close to the factory, it was quite scary.

“I looked out the front window and saw all the fire engines parked up on Manchester Road. I went out to ask what had happened but no-one would tell me.”

Christine Garlick, of Manchester Road, was also unhappy about the lack of information. She said: “We heard the bangs but nobody came and told us to keep our windows shut.”

Gary Ellis, 36, who lives on Holywell off Manchester Road, agreed.

He said: “The firemen did their job but the police were nowhere to be seen. No-one told us we were in danger down here.”

Mr Ellis, who works as a mechanic, thought the sound of the first explosion was actually burglars trying to break into his house.

He said: “At about 1am I was woken up by this bang. I thought it was someone trying to break in so I went downstairs to check the door.

“Then I heard another bang and I looked out to see all this smoke everywhere, it was absolutely terrible.

“You couldn’t breathe the stuff and you couldn’t see because it was so thick. You could taste it on your mouth. It was very scary.”

Katie Marshall, 27, of Manchester Road, was also woken by the blast.

She said: “I heard a really loud explosion and all the doors in the house were shaking. I could see the massive cloud of black smoke and the flames through the trees.”

Mrs Marshall tried to protect her young children Ebony, two, and Kyle, five

She said: “I knew the blast had come from the factory so I shut all the windows. But no-one told me about the quality of the air.”

Deby Linsell-Fraser knew there had been a major incident – even though she lives in Golcar.

She said: “I was woken up by the crackling and popping of the fire at about 1.10am and could see vast clouds of black smoke rolling down the valley towards Milnsbridge.

“It was a clear night with a lot of moonlight but I couldn't see the flames due to the curve of the valley.

“However, it was obviously a very big fire. The emergency services were very quiet – blue flashing lights but no sirens.

“I heard a number of explosions between 1.30am and 3am, they sounded like soft thumps.”

Manchester Road resident Les Fox lives opposite the site and said: “There was a massive explosion – that’s what woke people up.

“I saw some of my neighbours running and driving away with their children – we didn’t know if it was safe to stay round here.

“I felt a massive shake, the glass rattled in the house.

“People went outside and were all asking what we should do, whether they should leave or not.

“I saw a fire at the same factory about 15 years ago, and there was one about three years ago which I think is in exactly the same place – it was a generator room a few years ago and the location looks the same.”

Miriam Hammond, of Causeway Side, was unaware there had been an explosion until the morning.

The Kirklees Council worker said: “I came to work this morning and told everyone that the thunder woke me up in the night. Someone asked me what time was that, and I replied it woke me up between 1am and 2am. I said that although there was no lightning the rumbles woke me up.

“After looking at the Examiner website I now realise I must have heard the explosions.”