An explosion at a building site has hurled rocks and debris at homes and vehicles nearby.

Police said the blast in East Renfrewshire had caused "extensive damage" to surrounding properties.

Residents raised the alarm at 2.05pm on Thursday after an explosion rocked a building site close to Bonnyton Drive in Eaglesham.

Strathclyde Police said there are no reports of injuries in the blast, while emergency services remain at the scene.

Bonnyton Drive resident John Shannon said the explosion was caused by contractors working for builders Mactaggart and Mickel who had recently hit rock while constructing homes nearby.

The company confirmed there had been a blast on its site and said it had launched an investigation.

Mr Shannon told STV News: "The whole house shook and rocks showered down all over, damaging homes and cars. There are debris and rocks strewn all over the roads and in people's gardens.

"I think at least 20 houses have been affected and there's been windows panned in, house tiles smashed, cars damaged - I think it's very lucky no one got killed. If this was last week and the schools were still out, there could have been a fatality.

"Mactaggart and Mickel's contractor had said there would be a blast, and we would receive notification and help to cover up some of our property, but that never happened."

A spokesman for the construction firm said: “We can confirm that an incident took place earlier this afternoon during planned groundworks at our Eaglesham development, Polnoon.

"While there is no evidence of anyone being injured our immediate priority is the safety of the local community, residents and personnel on site.

“We are working with the emergency services who are on site and have a team of skilled tradesmen on standby to secure and repair affected properties."

“An investigation has already begun to establish the cause of the incident.”

Map shows location of the Eaglesham blast

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