TWO "fireballs" in the sky could be clues to the massive mystery explosion which rocked part of Greater Manchester yesterday.
They were seen by midwife Jeanette Vagg as she drove home just minutes before the huge bang was heard.
And an expert at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire believes the cause could be a bolide - a meteor between the size of a hazelnut and a tennis ball.
"When it hits the atmosphere, it shatters," said astronomer Ian Morison. "A loud explosion would be heard and the debris could break into a million little bits. It seems like a reasonable explanation for what happened."
Other theories for the massive noise in the Salford area include the an unlicensed industrial firework and a build-up of flammable gases in disused mine workings.
But Jeanette is convinced that meteorites are the answer.
Jeanette, who works at Trafford General, said: "I was driving home through Urmston towards Stretford and I saw them in the sky.
"They were black at the bottom with flames coming off them in a line. They were falling and one was a bit higher than the other. My first reaction was to think `I hope they're not bombs'. I drove a bit further and looked again, but they had gone."
As reported in yesterday's MEN, dozens of people called the police and fire service after hearing the blast at about 7.30am.
Chief Supt Brian Wroe of Salford police said: "The industrial firework is one of several possible explanations, as is an underground explosion.
"Officers have met with residents in the Old Clough Lane area of Worsley where we first received reports of an explosion. We have also spoken to the fire service, the gas companies and the local authority and not been able to find any rational explanation.
"We are keeping an open mind as we haven't been able to find any evidence of damage or destruction."
The blast was heard by people in Chorlton, Farnworth, Walkden, Worsley and Pendlebury. But police and the fire service have been unable to identify the source despite searching the area.
The investigation has now been closed unless members of the public suggest new lines of inquiry.
Earthquake experts today denied that a quake could have taken place in Greater Manchester.
Experts from the British Geological Society launched an investigation, but said that there was no evidence of any earthquake activity in the region.
Did you see anything? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Pat Moor, Worsley (14/10/2004 at 13:20)
Steve, Worsley (14/10/2004 at 14:13)
Steve, Worsley Village (14/10/2004 at 14:16)
John, Urmston (14/10/2004 at 15:10)
I think the fireball in the sky theory is wrong - they would have been seen by far more people and been seen on Manchester and Barton Airport's Radars.
I still think someone has set off a firework or there has been an underground explosion.
There were more bangs in Urmston at about 6am yesterday which appear to have gone unreported too.
It wasn't so long ago that we had mystery earthquakes with no known cause - WHAT IS GOING ON? WE SHOULD BE TOLD !!!
PHIL - WORSLEY, WORSLEY (14/10/2004 at 15:36)
kerrie, worsley manchester (14/10/2004 at 15:54)
Carole Urban, Bolton (14/10/2004 at 16:09)
Steve, Worsley Village (14/10/2004 at 16:25)
I am getting people telling me that they heard bangs at other times, which may or may not be fireworks. I agree with others though that investigations should continue by the services until some answers are found.
Catherine, Rochdale (14/10/2004 at 16:45)
Heid Saunders, Handforth, Wilmslow (14/10/2004 at 17:48)
Mark Hamilton, Timperley (14/10/2004 at 20:41)
jeff k, cadishead (14/10/2004 at 21:06)
Golf courses, wooded area
Donna, Ellenbrook Worsley (14/10/2004 at 22:48)
stephen balon, leigh (14/10/2004 at 22:50)
Stuart, Stockport (15/10/2004 at 01:18)
I havent been down to see if this is true but I'd like to.
John, Urmston (15/10/2004 at 08:55)
Charlie, Roe Green, Worsley (15/10/2004 at 09:01)
Michaela gill, Collyhurst Manchester (15/10/2004 at 09:44)
Katy Chambers, Central Manchester (15/10/2004 at 13:20)
My jaw dropped when I saw the front of the paper yesterday though - it just seemed remarkably similar. Meteor showers? Missile testing? Lil aliens in pods?? It would be nice to know...
John, Urmston (15/10/2004 at 13:26)
Juan Garcia, Salford, MAnchester (17/10/2004 at 12:35)
RENEE, INDIANA (13/09/2006 at 17:00)
Colin W, Stockholm (14/09/2006 at 05:53)
Graham Patrick (26/08/2011 at 22:08)
its path of flight was away from Flixton towards Stretford- Chorlton, Greater Manchester, i realy believe it came down due to its locality and hight in the sky in relation to my possition.
What i saw was most definitely a meteor in my opinion, i have seen some strange things in the sky in my life and even have a few images of something that apeared stationary for some time before disapearing, these images can be viewed by any1 interested, what it was i do not know but it was seen by my whole family also.
The meteor however i have no images of but it was deffinately a large 1 breaking up over Stretford for that i have no doubt, i can be contacted at gp.74@live.co.uk for any1 wanting to meet and view the other images
Graham Patrick (26/08/2011 at 22:08)
earlier this year April May i saw a huge meteor come down or atleast i think it came down as its size all be it breaking up was BIG !! it was low and arcing down over Stretford heading towards Chorlton direction, i couldnt get up of my sofa where i was lay unable to sleep due to back pain (damaged spinal disc) to see exactly where it came down but it was big white glow in the early morning 5.30am ish ? i recon it landed within a mile from my position,, next to j9 M60