Smoke heads for English Channel

THE thick plume of smoke seen rising from the flames caused by the explosions at Buncefield fuel terminal has spread across southern England and was heading towards the Channel last night.

The plume, which was earlier seen clearly on satellite pictures as a thick blob moving east, west and southwards, was being tracked by infrared technology after the sun went down.

It was thought light winds would move the smoke eastwards but winds have been so slight the cloud has continued to rise and gradually diffuse outwards.