7:17pm UK, Sunday December 11, 2005

The thick cloud of smoke rising from the flames at the blazing Buncefield fuel depot has spread across southern England.

Meteorologists say the black plume is heading towards the Channel.

180 Explosion cloud spreading

Cloud is spreading south

Experts are using infra-red to track the cloud in the dark, which can be seen on satellite pictures as a thick blob.

The smoke plume is heading towards the southern coast of England and has reached Essex, Kent, Hampshire and Sussex.

Jeremy Plester, meteorologist at the PA WeatherCentre, said: "It will almost certainly go over to France when the breeze picks up."

As the smoke spreads it is diluted and becomes less harmful.

Winds have been so slight after the explosion that the cloud has continued to rise and gradually diffuse outwards.

Because the smoke disperses the sunlight, it is likely to create spectacular sunsets in the next few days.

However, black rainfall is unlikely as only light rain is forecast.

The good atmospheric conditions also meant the sound of the explosion could be heard as far away as 100 miles.