AN industrial chimney at an engine manufacturing plant has been damaged after an explosion.

Residents close to the Man Diesel plant in Port Lane, Colchester, heard a blast on Thursday at 2pm.

One of the chimneys was dislodged as a result.

Dave Constable, of Falcon Crescent, opposite the plant, was in his kitchen when he heard the explosion.

Mr Constable, 50, who worked at the former Paxmans factory for nine years before it became Man Diesel, said: “All I can describe it as is a loud explosion.

“I said to myself: ‘What the hell was that?’ “Then there was a large raft of red smoke and I thought: ‘That doesn’t look good’.”

Mr Constable was initially concerned for workers’ safety and went to the front gate of the plant and spoke to a security guard.

He said: “He didn’t seem to know what was going on, but when he came out, he was a bit panicky.”

Mr Constable said when he returned later, the same security guard had been told not to let anyone on site and if they emerged with a camera, they were to be ushered away.

It is understood a crane will be used to make the chimney safe.

Firefighters were initially called to the scene, but a spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said crews stood down and the incident has been reported as a false alarm.

No-one from Man Diesel provided a response.