An investigation has been launched after an explosion at the Kronospan plant in Chirk.

No-one was injured in the blast, which happened inside the wood maunfacturer’s premises at about 9am on Friday, August 12.

Now Natural Resources Wales is working alongside the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the circumstances around the explosion.

Lyndsey Rawlinson, head of operations North Wales for Natural Resources Wales, said: “We regulate sites like this to reduce the impact of pollution on people and the environment.

“We were informed of an explosion at the Kronospan site in Chirk on August 12.

“There is no impact on the environment from the incident.

“Our officers have attended the site and we’ll continue to work with the Health and Safety Executive to investigate what happened, and establish what steps can be taken to reduce the likelihood of it happening again.”

A Kronospan spokesman said: “We had a suspected gas explosion at approximately 9am. There were no injuries and it was dealt with by our onsite fire team.”

The incident comes just weeks after pupils at nearby Ysgol y Waun Primary School had to retreat indoors after fumes from the factory engulfed a playground during break time.

As the town’s largest employer, many Chirk residents believe the company should be more accountable for emissions from the plant.

Well-attended public meetings at the Parish Hall earlier this year saw angry residents confront company officials and Wrexham councillors about the perceived threat to public health caused by plant emissions.

Kronospan has since installed dust silos which, it says, will contain a ‘substantial proportion’ of airborne dust which can emanate from the factory.