MASSIVE EXPLOSION

Lisa Hulbert from Laughton Village Stores lives behind Laughton Manor. She heard the first bang and thought it was left over from firework night.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Dec 2006, 10:28 BST

Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:50 BST

'Then I saw all this black smoke and realised was slightly more.

'We heard the next massive explosion and saw a mushroom cloud.

'Everyone round here knows the family.

'They shop here, use the pub and take a lot of interest in village life.

'They've been running this business really well for more than 20 years and it's terrible to think they have lost everything '“ not just their factory but their livelihood as well.

The explosions were heard over a wide area.

People in Uckfield heard the blasts and a motorist driving on the A22 at East Hoathly heard the first bang while driving along.

Picture: Sky news/PA