THERE ARE FOUR people still unaccounted for after three explosions rocked a flour mill in Cheshire.

Police said this evening that 35 people were directly affected by the explosion at Wood Flour Mills in Bosley, and four were taken to hospital.

After the explosion, residents were urged to keep their windows and doors closed due to drifting smoke and particles. In the last two hours, they were told this was no longer necessary.

Footage of the scene was released by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service:

It is believed the four people unaccounted for are still in the building.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, Paul Hancock, said:

This is a difficult and demanding incident. There are a number of hazards that make it particularly dangerous for those attempting to tackle the blaze. However, crews and our colleagues from the other emergency services continue to work tirelessly to both bring the fire under control and find the four that are missing. We urge everyone in the area to keep their windows and doors shut as there continues to be a lot of smoke in the area.

It is expected that fire crews will have to remain on the scene over the weekend.

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