Glascoed: Explosion at BAE Systems Monmouthshire site

There has been an explosion at a site belonging to BAE Systems, Britain's biggest defence firm, in south Wales.

It happened at BAE Systems in Glascoed, Monmouthshire, at 10:49 BST on Wednesday, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.

BAE Systems said safety protocols were "immediately enacted" and emergency services attended the site.

It said there were no injuries and no risk to local residents and production was unaffected.

"The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation," a spokeswoman said, adding that the Health and Safety Executive had also been informed of the incident.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it had been called to the scene and that an incident control post had been established.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said it attended the scene, but nobody required treatment.

David TC Davies, MP for Monmouth, said the explosion occured "in a remote part of the site that had been set aside to take apart shells".

"I am told there is always a small risk involved in this particular operation, which is exactly why it is carried out with remote control in a restricted area of the site. There were no risks to any members of the public," he added.

The BAE systems site was established to help prepare the Royal Navy ahead of World War Two.

Today, it employs about 500 people.

In 2020, the site received a £32m ($40m) upgrade as part of a £2.4bn UK-wide contract to supply the armed forces.

BAE Systems said the money would help secure 555 jobs over 15 years at Glascoed.

The funds were set aside to refurbish and upgrade manufacturing lines making ammunition, mortars, medium and large-calibre artillery and tank shells.