Other community leaders have also urged residents in the affected village of Yarnton and neighbouring locations to stay safe after an explosion at the Severn Trent Green Power Cassington waste plant on Monday evening. 

The Benefice of Yarnton with Begbroke and Shipton-on-Cherwell, Reverend Oliver Petter, observed: "I saw the sky in a very unusual shade of red.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those responding."

Reverend Petter added that the church would be open for anyone who wanted to come in and light a candle.

"It is alarming but a relief that no one was hurt," he concluded.

READ MORE: Here's what we know about the lightning explosion 

Meanwhile, local farming contractor, Kaleb Cooper of Clarkson's Farm, said in a public social media post: "Stay safe out there.

"That was unreal.

"I've never ever witnessed anything like that."

The owner of a lurcher puppy called Buddi, Paige Butcher, who is aged 18, had come out specially to watch the firefighting effort with a group of bystanders from the railway bridge between Yarnton and Cassington. 

Lurcher puppy Buddi’s owner Paige Butcher (Image: Tom Seaward, Newsquest)

"If it had exploded, it would be a story to tell my grandkids," she said.

Thames Valley Police and Severn Trent Green Power Cassington have confirmed there were no injuries.