THE shooting of one of the most expensive scenes ever made for BBC One’s Casualty ended with a huge explosion in Yate last night.

The blast marked the culmination of weeks of preparation, set building and filming.

Featuring a motorway crash involving a petrol tanker turning on its side, the footage was filmed on the Road to Nowhere.

Residents had been warned that the scene would include ‘a large explosion, possibly two’, and they weren't disappointed, with many noting a loud bang at 10.26pm.

Commenting on Facebook Heather Collier wrote: "OMG that was one hell of explosion!"

Chris Craig posted: "The shock wave was nuts."

Paul Hulbert, who lives a mile away from the site, said he heard the loudest of the two bangs through his double glazing.

Chris Zapata and his son Jacey, 15, headed up to Yate's Road to Nowhere to watch the filming.

"There were at least 800 people there, and cars were parked all the way up Westerleigh Road," he said.

"Everyone was chatting and having a laugh. There was a great atmosphere and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

"It was all cordoned off and there was lots of security there. They were using torches, to make sure no-one was hiding in the bushes, to try and get closer," he said.

"I'd been up there the previous night too, and sussed out where to get the best view.

"I heard the director shout 'action', and then it was BOOM! And the cast started running in the opposite direction.

"From what I could tell, the scene featured a woman who'd been stuck in a car, being wheeled away from the tanker on a stretcher."

The episode of Casualty is due to be broadcast on Saturday, August 11.

Video footage courtesy of Chris Zapata.