A 55-year-old man is in a “critical but stable” condition in hospital today after suffering serious burns in a blast at an explosives factory.Factory owners are today trying to determine what caused the blast at Wardle Storey's manufacturing plant in Brantham after materials thought to be used in making missile heads for the Ministry of Defence exploded and caused a massive fire.

A 55-year-old man is in a “critical but stable” condition in hospital today after suffering serious burns in a blast at an explosives factory.

Factory owners are today trying to determine what caused the blast at Wardle Storey's manufacturing plant in Brantham after materials thought to be used in making missile heads for the Ministry of Defence exploded and caused a massive fire.