A WORKER was slightly injured after a gas cylinder exploded at Inverkip Power Station. The blast shook houses, and residents ran into the streets to see what had happened.

Police confirmed that an industrial accident had taken place and that it was not a deliberate explosion connected to demolition work. The 40-year-old demolition worker suffered superficial injuries.

A ScottishPower spokesperson, said: “Contractors working for ScottishPower were in the process of removing gas bottles at Inverkip Power Station as part of ongoing work when an incident occurred. A full investigation has been launched to determine the details of the incident. Emergency services attended the site and one member of the contracting staff was taken to hospital as a precaution with minor injuries. ScottishPower operates the highest standards of health and safety and we will work closely with our contractor Brown and Mason to fully investigate the incident.”

Police said the incident around 8.15 on Tuesday night was self-contained with no danger to residents. Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said they had not been called to the incident.

Neighbours ran out into the street to see what had happened after the blast which shook people’s houses.

One resident wrote on Inverclyde Now’s Facebook page: “All my neighbours [were] out in the street wondering what it was. My whole house shook.”

Another said: “I thought something had fell through my roof, ran upstairs but then noticed everyone outside, pretty scary.”

The incident is to be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive