A controlled demolition of four cooling towers in Clay Wheels Lane, near the Wadsley Bridge area, has left people terrified.

The early morning bangs were so loud they could be heard as far as Ecclesfield and Middlewood which left people in the area startled.

Charlene Kerry Wallace, who lives nearby, said she was woken by a sound similar to an air raid siren before hearing three ‘massive bangs’ which caused her whole house to shake.  

Charlene said: “I jumped out of bed as if we were getting bombed, I was so scared I didn’t know what an earth was going on.

“We all live on the back edge, so not far from the explosion, we had no letter or message informing us of all of this.”

It was not until frightened neighbours called the police that they found out the cause of the explosion.

South Yorkshire police confirmed that the loud noises were part of a demolition which was planned and controlled. 

Stannington Councillor Penny Baker said that planning permission was given more than two years ago but the council was not told about the explosions.

Councillor Baker said fire and rescue services were aware of the demolition and some people in the area had been informed, but most had not. 

She added: “What a mess, we now need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”