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Bosley mill explosion: tributes paid to victims at moving church service Bosley mill explosion: tributes paid to victims at moving church service
(35 minutes later)
Prayers have been said at a moving church service in the Cheshire village of Bosley seven days after a huge explosion at the local mill left four people dead.Prayers have been said at a moving church service in the Cheshire village of Bosley seven days after a huge explosion at the local mill left four people dead.
The Rev John Harries, vicar of St Mary the Virgin church, said the local community had been “ripped apart” by the disaster last Friday.The Rev John Harries, vicar of St Mary the Virgin church, said the local community had been “ripped apart” by the disaster last Friday.
Three bodies have been recovered from the wreckage at the Wood Treatment Limited plant, near Macclesfield.Three bodies have been recovered from the wreckage at the Wood Treatment Limited plant, near Macclesfield.
Related: Bosley Mill explosion: owners say they 'share the pain of the community'
Derek Moore, 62, has been identified as one of the victims. Formal identification of the other two is yet to take place but they are thought to be William Barks, 51, and Dorothy Bailey, 62, who worked at the mill.Derek Moore, 62, has been identified as one of the victims. Formal identification of the other two is yet to take place but they are thought to be William Barks, 51, and Dorothy Bailey, 62, who worked at the mill.
Their colleague Jason Shingler, 38, is unaccounted for following the huge blast and 1,000C inferno, described as the “worst incident of its kind” in a decade.Their colleague Jason Shingler, 38, is unaccounted for following the huge blast and 1,000C inferno, described as the “worst incident of its kind” in a decade.
Candles were lit as more than 100 villagers, some of them relatives of those killed, came together and were asked to think of those who lost their lives or were injured.Candles were lit as more than 100 villagers, some of them relatives of those killed, came together and were asked to think of those who lost their lives or were injured.
The village has about 400 residents, with everyone knowing someone affected by the tragedy. Harries offered prayers for all those affected, “to settle their racing thoughts and help them to know they will not stand alone in grief”.The village has about 400 residents, with everyone knowing someone affected by the tragedy. Harries offered prayers for all those affected, “to settle their racing thoughts and help them to know they will not stand alone in grief”.
After the closing hymn, Abide with Me, members of the congregation stood outside the church, some in tears, being hugged by well-wishers.After the closing hymn, Abide with Me, members of the congregation stood outside the church, some in tears, being hugged by well-wishers.
Harries said: “The aim of today was to help people try and process everything that has happened over the last week. It is like there is a wound and this wound has been continually opened as the revelations come out of one body after the next.Harries said: “The aim of today was to help people try and process everything that has happened over the last week. It is like there is a wound and this wound has been continually opened as the revelations come out of one body after the next.
“And people are raw with emotion, and I want us to be able to come together as a community and to support one another as we have been doing and lift each other up in prayer and just try and not relive, but think back to how our lives were last week, when in a matter of moments everything changed.“And people are raw with emotion, and I want us to be able to come together as a community and to support one another as we have been doing and lift each other up in prayer and just try and not relive, but think back to how our lives were last week, when in a matter of moments everything changed.
Related: Bosley mill explosion: families of those feared dead to visit site
“It’s ripped the community apart. This is really painful to get through, it’s harrowing. But at the same time I can see our community coming closer together than it ever has done before and I have every confidence we will emerge stronger and even closer, if that is possible.“It’s ripped the community apart. This is really painful to get through, it’s harrowing. But at the same time I can see our community coming closer together than it ever has done before and I have every confidence we will emerge stronger and even closer, if that is possible.
“But at the moment we are hurting tremendously. I was with the families yesterday as they went down to see the devastation and nothing can prepare you for that. It is very very upsetting. Deeply upsetting.”“But at the moment we are hurting tremendously. I was with the families yesterday as they went down to see the devastation and nothing can prepare you for that. It is very very upsetting. Deeply upsetting.”
On Thursday, relatives of the victims laid flowers at the scene of the blaze. Kelvin Barks, William Barks’s brother, was among those who attended. He later told reporters: “It’s shocking to see the magnitude of what has gone on there. I was just numb. You just could not believe … the fires are still burning and they have constantly got hoses out. It’s colossal down there.”On Thursday, relatives of the victims laid flowers at the scene of the blaze. Kelvin Barks, William Barks’s brother, was among those who attended. He later told reporters: “It’s shocking to see the magnitude of what has gone on there. I was just numb. You just could not believe … the fires are still burning and they have constantly got hoses out. It’s colossal down there.”
A joint investigation is under way involving police, the fire service and the Health and Safety Executive to establish the cause of the incident.A joint investigation is under way involving police, the fire service and the Health and Safety Executive to establish the cause of the incident.
The HSE served Wood Treatment Ltd with improvement notices two years ago in which it warned of a risk of an explosion or fire, although the company complied with the notice.The HSE served Wood Treatment Ltd with improvement notices two years ago in which it warned of a risk of an explosion or fire, although the company complied with the notice.
Emergency crews are still picking through metal, concrete and brickwork at the site, while fire crews are pumping water into large containers of wood flour to reduce temperatures and keep fires under control. A week after the explosion, emergency crews were still picking through metal, concrete and brickwork at the site, while fire crews were pumping water into large containers of wood flour to reduce temperatures and keep fires under control.
Rescuers are confident they know Shingler’s location and will recover his body from the wreckage soon. But they are hampered by pockets of fire hidden in the vast piles of twisted metal, a week on from the disaster. Rescuers are confident they know Shingler’s location and hope to recover his body from the wreckage soon. But they were still being hampered by pockets of fire hidden in the vast piles of twisted metal, a week on from the disaster.