Anger after explosions rock Glenrothes

Glenrothes residents should have been warned in advance of a series of loud explosions that have rocked the town in recent days, it has been claimed.

Local councillor John Beare has hit out at the army for failing to inform householders in the north of the town ahead of recent training exercises near the Tullis Russell site.

Explosions as part of manoeuvres being conducted by soldiers have caused widespread alarm, with shoppers at a nearby supermarket car park reported to have ducked following one particularly loud blast.

Residents in Markinch, Cadham and Balfarg are also said to have felt vibrations in their homes, with claims that pets have reacted particularly badly to the noises.

While acknowledging that army personnel must train, Mr Beare said that residents should not have been left in the dark about the manoeuvres.

He said: “While it is very important our defence forces carry out appropriate training, it would be more than helpful if the community were made aware in advance of loud and unusual noises associated with any such exercises.”

The first explosions were heard on Tuesday afternoon, with one local worker in Markinch telling The Courier that the noise “sounded like a boulder landing in a skip”.

The training continued yesterday and is expected to continue until Friday, with the North Glenrothes Community Council comparing the noise to Edinburgh’s one o’clock gun.

The army did not respond to a request for comment.