Bosley Appeal fund continues to grow

The fund to help the workers and families caught up in a fatal explosion at Bosley Wood Treatment mill now stands at £50,000 – and growing.

Four workers at Wood Treatment Ltd in Bosley, Cheshire, were unaccounted for after the 17 July blast. Three have since been identified after remains were discovered.

Kelvin Barks, who lost his brother Will in the tragedy, said the fund would hopefully start paying out next week to families facing financial hardship.

He said: “There’s 50 people without jobs . . . it all helps. Thank you to everybody who has helped and is continuing to help.”

Will Barks, Derek Moore, 62, and Dorothy Bailey, 62, have been identified as victims.

Other remains have been found. Jason Shingler, 38, is still missing.

Temperatures reached 1,000C and it was described by rescuers as the “worst incident of its kind” in a decade.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion continues.

For the last week search teams were pulled from the factory site as two silos that were unsafe had to be demolished but specialist search teams were back at work on yesterday (Tuesday).

Funds have been raised – and continue to be sought – through a series of fundraising events organised by the local community, a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BosleyFireDisasterFund and website http://bosleyfiredisasterfund.co.uk

The scale of this tragedy – and the extent to which it has affected so many – is inconceivable for a village the size of Bosley.

Please, do what you can to help your neighbours in their hour of need.