A multi-agency investigation is underway into a massive chemical plant fire on Tyneside in Britain yesterday.
The inferno was the second incident at Distillex, North Tyneside, in nine weeks. Nobody was injured in either incident.
Emergency services say the operation, following the out break of the fire yesterday, has been scaled down and all neighbouring residents have returned to their homes, after a night of uncertainty.
A spokesman for North Tyneside Council said: "We are still awaiting a report from the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive from the first incident because questions were asked then.
"It would be inappropriate to draw conclusions except to say there will be a full inquiry by the council.
"It's for the HSE now to see what went wrong," he said.
In the wake of the incident, the Food Standards Agency issued a statement warning people about the potential dangers of chemicals being passed into the food chain.
An emergency telephone hotline was set up for residents wanting information about the immediate area and urged anyone experiencing medical problems to seek advice from the NHS Direct advice line.
PA