A huge plume of smoke hung over Newton Abbot yesterday morning after an explosion at Teignbridge Propellers, injuring four people. Two suffered serious burns and two more sustained minor burns, which are not considered life threatening.

A 300m exclusion zone was set up around the factory in Forde Road as it was thought at first that hazardous acetylene cylinders were involved.

Four fire tenders, two from Newton Abbot and two from Torquay including an aerial appliance, rushed to the scene at 8.30am to extinguish two separate fires.

Later a fire brigade spokesman said the fire did not involve the cylinders.

Police did not need to evacuate the area, but advised residents living outside the exclusion zone to stay indoors and keep windows closed.

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