THERE has been an explosion in a Worcestershire village as workmen cut through disused oil containers.

The explosion in Drakes Broughton, near Pershore - at 11.20am this morning - caused houses to shake and residents to run outside and investigate.

Smoke, seen rising from one end of Magnolia Close, led people workmen who were decommissioning old oil tanks.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service watch manager Steve Law said: "The explosion occured as a workman cut into one of the containers.

"Obviously there were still some vapours left.

"When we got there, there was a small fire inside the container and that was all.

"We let the oil burn out, which took a matter of minutes."

Terry James heard the explosion from his home in near-by Greenfields Close.

"I went outside and everybody can come out from their houses to see what was going on," he said.

"We could see smoke coming from the end of the close and everbody dashed down there."

Nobody was hurt in the incident.