Workers in hospital following Lindsey Oil Refinery explosion (VIDEO)

TWO workers taken to Grimsby’s Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital following the explosion at Lindsey Oil Refinery have been confirmed to be middle aged men.

As reported, reporters and photographers are still at the scene as about 50 fire-fighters tackle the flames following an explosion at the Killingholme site.

Road closures are still in place at both ends of Eastfield Road and Church Lane in North Killingholme.

The first reports of the blaze came just after midday and a thick black column of smoke can be seem billowing from the site from as far away as Cleethorpes.

However, it is not yet known what has caused the explosions.

A worker who was on site at the time of the blast, who did not wish to be named, said: "The explosion happened where the heaters are.

"All that was heard was a whoosh and a bang and the rest is what can be seen.

"At the minute it's just an evacuation. It's very worrying. There's a lot of ambulances and the Air Ambulance is here."

Another worker from the site added: "There was a secondary explosion heard as we were all running down the road.

"It was a scene of panic. 300 or 400 men all running down the road."

James Wright, 54, of Top Road, Killingholme - who had been working as rigger at LOR just last week - said: "Everyone has been coming out of their houses to watch.

"We're all really shocked. There is thick black smoke above the houses.

"Coming out of Killingholme I could see the fire engines rushing up the A180."

Another Immingham resident, who did not wish to be named, said he had heard a "bang" at just after noon.

There are also reports that it is a tank fire and a small secondary fire, that some of areas of Killingholme have been evacuated and the force of the explosion caused windows in surrounding properties to be blown out.

Lindsey Oil Refinery following the explosions. Picture by Ellie Jones.

A spokesman for Humberside Fire and Rescue said that first crew to be called to the scene had been Immingham West, who arrived at 12.06pm.

A further seven crews have also been dispatched to the scene to tackle the blaze. However, it is not yet known what has caused it.

Submitted picture above by James Dennis

Submitted picture above by David Neal

The four pictures above were submitted by David Jones of Grimsby