Batteries on fire amid reports of 'explosion' near Wolverhampton Railway Station

People in the area took to social media after an explosion was heard in the city centre. Firefighters said the exploding sounds were caused by batteries igniting.

The explosion, which sounded like a "short thunderclap", was heard at around 1.57pm.

West Midlands Fire Service said 25 firefighters were in attendance at the fire at waste management company LiBatt Recycling in Lincoln Street.

An initial fire service statement said: "It is an outdoor fire, believed to involve chemical drums in a yard.

"There are no reports of anyone being hurt."

A further update said: "Just before 1.45pm on Tuesday), two fire crews responded to an outdoor fire in Lincoln Street, Heath Town, Wolverhampton.

"The first crew arrived within four minutes of being mobilised.

"The fire involved a small number of containers, whose contents included batteries. People nearby may have heard some of the batteries exploding.

"The nature of the fire meant that it could not be tackled using water. Instead, a material was used to smother it, which had been achieved by around 2.45pm.

"At around 3.30pm, there were further small explosions. Slight damage was caused to the roof of a nearby steel-framed building.

"We sent more resources to the scene and, as of 4.30pm, six fire engines and an aerial platform were there.

"The incident involves materials including batteries, some of which people nearby may have heard exploding."

Earlier, X user Si Gunthorpe posted: "Explosion heard and seen in Wolverhampton near the train station.

"It was like a short thunderclap and rumble."

Pictures, posted on social media, showed a tower of smoke rising near a batter processing unit near the railway station following the loud explosion.