It's raining rocks: Kilsyth blast bombards homes

LARGE stones and bricks rained down on houses, shaking buildings and damaging property, following a controlled explosion at a construction site.

Shocked residents said it was a miracle no-one had been seriously hurt by the torrent of rocks, some of which were as big as an adult's head.

Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the disused Barrwood Quarry, in Stirling Road, Kilsyth, at 2:20pm yesterday.

Debris from the explosion damaged roofs, smashed glass and left some properties with holes in their ceilings. Conservatories and even brick walls were also damaged.

The impact was felt up to 400 yards away, with some people saying they felt tremors in their homes.

Yvonne Ross, who lives in nearby Ladeside Drive, said police and fire officers cordoned off the street and were checking houses for damage and any injuries.

She said: "Rocks from the explosion went through the roofs of houses. In one case, a boulder went right through into the lounge. One of the bricks has broken our front step, but the damage is quite minor. It must have travelled quite a distance to reach my door.

"No-one has been injured, which is quite surprising really. It's a total miracle."

Dawn Group, one of Scotland's largest construction companies, said there had been a "controlled explosion" at the site but debris had fallen beyond the safety exclusion zone set by specialist contractors.

Police and fire crews sealed off a hazard zone 300 metres around the area as an investigation was launched. Officials from the Health and Safety Executive are expected to visit the site today.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: "The incident resulted in several homes, thought to be five, in Ladeside Drive, opposite the quarry, being damaged by debris from the site. "No-one has been injured and an investigation is under way to establish what has happened."

Fire and rescue teams from Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch community stations were sent to the scene after the alarm was raised. A Strathclyde Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "Fire crews were immediately tasked with searching the dwellings for any casualties, evacuating the immediate area of non-emergency services personnel and instigating a 300m hazard zone in liaison with the police."

The spokesman said teams would stay until satisfied that the area was safe.

He added: "The blast was confirmed as having originated from a nearby quarry and the cause of the blast and resultant damage will be investigated by the appropriate agencies."