'Fireball' after vehicle hits gas terminal

People were evacuated from their homes after a vehicle collided with a gas terminal in Lincolnshire.

Emergency services placed a 650ft (200m) cordon around the site near the village of Ingham.

Lincolnshire Police said the crash involved two vehicles and there had been reports of minor injuries.

One eyewitness described seeing a "massive fireball".

Nick Davey said the incident was "pretty shocking".

"I was just coming back from taking my daughter to school... and saw the smoke and I was obviously trying to get back to my house," he said.

"There were no emergency services here at that point. It was just a massive fireball."

The cordon has been lifted and residents are being allowed to return to their homes, Lincolnshire Police said.

A spokesperson added: "The junction of Ingham Lane onto Cow Hill on the A15 is closed and is likely to remain closed for the next few days.

"Local diversions will be put in place and Cadent Gas will be in touch with residents affected by the incident."

Richard Sansom from Cadent said the vehicle had hit one of the gas firm's governor stations. He described it as “a small kiosk which manages gas pressures in the local area".

“As a result of this collision, the governor immediately made it safe by cutting off the gas supply, which has affected Cadent customers in the Ingham area," he said.

“Engineers have made the area safe, but there now follows the process of recommissioning and re-pressurising the local network, which will take some time."

He added: “I’d like to thank everybody affected for their patience and understanding as we deal with this as quickly and as safely as possible."

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