Shropshire-based drainage and waste company SP Holding saw one of its tankers involved in a massive explosion at the climax of the first episode of new BBC hit drama, Paradox.

The episode, which aired last Tuesday, showed a tanker containing flammable gas drive under a low bridge and a train full of passengers.

More than four million viewers saw the catastrophic explosion which followed, created by the show’s special effects team and with the help and advice of staff at Telford-based SP Holding, based in Moreton Coppice, which supplied the tanker.

The firm’s managing director Steve Holding said they were only too happy to help and added the programme had given them a massive publicity boost.

He said: “When we were approached to supply the tanker for the scene, we were of course delighted.

“We helped the special effects team to achieve a large explosion by making cuts to an empty tanker and placing small quantities of fuel inside to ignite. The effect was excellent and millions of people got to see our phone number and logo for a few seconds, so it was excellent publicity for us.”

SP Holding’s health and safety officer Linda Richardson moved quickly to assure people the firm’s tankers did not usually explode in that way.

“We can assure viewers and customers that the explosion was carried out under controlled conditions.”