'It was really loud, I thought a plane had crashed' says nearby resident to Westbrook firework explosion

UPDATE: The investigation into the Westbrook explosion is still ongoing, with local police and fire services currently at the site of the incident.

Newbury Fire Station manager Phil Knight said: “The incident is still being monitored by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service. There is still a presence [at Westbrook Farm Cottages] with the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service working together with Thames Valley Police.”

Mr Knight was unsure how long the investigation might take, stating that it could last until Tuesday.

A West Berkshire resident was with seven-year-old her son at a play park in Boxford when an explosion went off in Westbrook yesterday (April 16).

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue were called to the scene at 1.41pm yesterday afternoon (Saturday) and have since found the fire, which involved "possible pyrotechnics and fireworks".

The mother-of-two who wishes to remain anonymous said: " It was so quiet and sunny, we were playing in the park.

"[The explosion] was really loud, I thought a plane had crashed or something. Smoke was everywhere."

"My son came running to me."

She called the police and fire service to notify them of what she had heard, not yet sure where it had come from.

"I rang them two seconds after it exploded, I thought it was a bomb.

"They said that they were looking for it, it was all quite crazy."

Upon driving around she found that it hadn't come from a nearby RAF base or the M4, which she had initially suspected.

She added: "The police were asking if it was still exploding but at that point it was not.

"It then started exploding more, it was quite scary".

Berkshire Fire and Rescue are working to control the fire, Thames Valley Police are leading an operation.

The M4 was shut in both directions between Junction 13 and Junction 14 but it has since reopened.