Blast victims named

Police today named four of the victims of the Glasgow factory explosion which has so far claimed seven lives.

Ann Trench, 34, of Colston, Glasgow; Margaret Brownlie, 49, of Glassford Road, Strathaven; Tracey McErlane, 27, of Westercommon Drive, Possilpark; and Peter Ferguson, 52, of Kilbarchan, were among the victims of the blast at Stockline Plastics in the Maryhill area of the city yesterday.

Strathclyde Police said the body of another man has been identified but the family do not want his name to be released at the moment.

Chief Superintendent David Christie said: "This is obviously a very traumatic time for the families and our deepest sympathies go out to them at this difficult time."

Rescue workers are clinging to the hope of finding survivors from the blast that destroyed a Glasgow factory.

Nobody has been found alive in the rubble today and the death toll may well have risen above the official number of seven dead.

Desperate knocking sounds were heard at dawn at the plastics plant where seven people are confirmed killed.

Firefighters are focusing on an area where they heard the faint sounds.

Chief Superintendent David Christie said: "There was a report of a knocking sound that is giving us some hope. There may be people alive under the rubble."

Police confirmed at least three people were still missing but said others might be lying dead.

Strathclyde firemaster Brian Sweeney said: "I'm very optimistic. There are people under that building and I'm making the assumption based on professional experience that they are alive and while we think that the operation continues."

About 100 firefighters are picking through the rubble by hand and sniffer dogs are being used.

The collapsed roof of the four-storey factory remains precariously balanced.

The building was flattened in seconds by the blast shortly after midday yesterday. Survivors suggested four factory ovens may have exploded.

About 100 people are thought to have been inside, although the numbers are unconfirmed. Police confirmed 43 people were injured, 17 of them seriously.

Bosses at Stockline Plastics and parent company ICL Plastics expressed condolences to the families of staff members "whose lives were taken in the tragic event".