Investigators in England are looking into claims by a tanker driver that he triggered the Buncefield oil blast by flicking his engine cut-out switch while there was a vapour leak from the plant.

A bitter war of words erupted tonight over claims that firefighters were “woefully prepared” to fight the Buncefield oil blast.

The Buncefield oil depot fire – thought to be the largest peacetime blaze seen in Europe – was tonight defeated after burning for nearly 60 hours, a fire chief said.

More than 100 firefighters were battling today to control a huge inferno that erupted following a series of blasts at an oil depot.

Firefighters today launched a bid to douse the inferno that erupted at an oil depot following a series of explosions.