People in Ellesmere Port reported what sounded like an 'explosion' yesterday evening.
Concerned residents posted on social media describing "a huge bang" that left their house "shaking" at around 7pm.
Many complained of respiratory problems and reported that their cars were covered in dust the following morning.
Louisa Aylward was one of the concerned residents that heard the 'explosion'.
Speaking to the ECHO , she said: "I could smell the fire and the dust only landed on my car and everyone else's roughly two hours after the massive bang and the floor shook.
"I started feeling my chest getting tight and it made me cough, I had tears I was coughing that much.
EasyJet flight from Liverpool to Lanzarote makes unscheduled landing at Manchester airport
"I woke up this morning and my chest felt the same I'm now feeling like a really dry irritation in my chest and throat."
But Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the 'explosion' was nothing more than a false alarm.
Travellers set up camp in a children's play area and people aren't happy
A spokesperson said: "At 7pm on Tuesday 23 April police received a report from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to say a member of the public had heard an explosion at a refinery on Oil Sites Road in Ellesmere Port.
"The report was declared a false alarm by Cheshire Fire after firefighters and security officers conducted a thorough search of the site and found no fire or explosion."
Saharan dust,
