It was the result of a lightning strike at a waste plant near Yarnton, which had caused a gas tank to ignite.

Emergency services sped to the scene, as did several of our reporters, who spoke to residents about that they saw. 

Here is what we know so far.

"The sky lit up" 

The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms in Oxford this evening, and rain had been falling accompanied by lightning strikes.

At around 7.20pm, a digester tank at the Severn Trent Green Power Cassington AD Facility near Yarnton was struck by lightning and the biogas within ignited.

A huge fire could be seen across the city, with the sky glowing orange.

Short power outages were also observed in different areas of the county.

Thames Valley Police arrived at the scene, along with six fire engines, 40 fire and rescue personnel, an aerial appliance and water tanker.

Local residents who live nearby were urged to stay at home and keep doors and windows closed.

A police statement, released shortly after 9pm, said that fire and rescue operations were ongoing, and a spokesman for the service said there would be no further updates this evening.

Severn Trent Green Power said no one had been hurt.

ITV Meridian reported that four ambulances were allowed through the gate into the plant.

Four ambulances have just been allowed through the gate into the plant at the centre of the explosion which lit up the skies near Yarnton/Cassington. No reports of injuries, but this is concerning. More @itvmeridian at 10.30pm pic.twitter.com/4pMmBcpOxO

— Wesley Smith (@wesleysmithtv) October 2, 2023

We had reporters at the scene for several hours.

Our reporter Tom Seaward took this photograph of an aerial appliance shooting water from an elevated platform.

Another reporter Miranda Norris reported at 10.50pm that the air still smelt of smoke and there was still a glow of the fire on the horizon and police lights.

We also spoke to nearby residents.

One householder Katty, whose surname has not been disclosed, said: "The lights all flickered in the house and the sky lit up."

Another eyewitness said: "Saw this strange pulsing sky out of our windows looking north west of Oxford. I’m guessing it’s a fire caused by the lightning storm that passed over."

Bystanders on the railway bridge between Yarnton and Cassington said there was another tongue of flame at around 10.45pm