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Two young boys are feared missing after a huge fire has engulfed an indoor paintball centre.

Residents have reported hearing "large explosions" from the scene at the 'Desert Storm' building in St Helens, Merseyside.

Fire crews were alerted to the blaze at 5pm on Monday and arrived at the scene five minutes later.

A woman said she felt "sick" at the thought of two kids trapped inside.

She said: "It looks like they are getting it under control but no one has been brought out."

John Garland, who lives near the centre, said that 'two lads' had been seen near the building with 'black clothes' on.

He said: "I don't know if they went inside or if they were even trying to get inside.

"But I hope they didn't."

Thick, black clouds spilled into the sky as people reported seeing them from miles away.

Passenger Sue Clark was flying on a Ryanair flight from Cork to Liverpool when she spotted plumes of grey smoke billowing from the blaze on Borough Road.

(Image: @MrNiceGuy_2009/twitter) (Image: @DrunkWolfArt/Twitter)

The 33-year-old from Maghull told the Liverpool Echo: “I didn’t have a clue what was going on.

“We were absolutely shocked.

“The whole plane was looking out the window as the sky and clouds were completely black.

“The fire looked to be absolutely huge and the pictures don’t do it justice.

“The pilot went a different way round as well to avoid it.”

Midwife Ashleigh Latham was leaving her home in Prescot – a 15 minute drive away – to walk her dogs when she spotted the clouds of black smoke.

Ashleigh said: "I was just about to take my dogs for a walk at Taylor Park, which is near the fire.

"We could see the smoke billowing more the closer we got.

"And there was like a musty kind of smell in the air.

"It was a shock seeing the flames coming out the building. I have seen a large fire before – in Prescot around six months ago at the hazardous waste plant – but that time I just saw large clouds of smoke, no flames.

"I have heard that there may be two people that entered the building just before the fire started but the business is closed down as far as I'm aware.

"I didn't know at the time of taking the photos that people may be in there. It's not a nice thought, after the events of Grenfell Tower in London it just hits home how quick and dangerous fire is."

According to residents in the area, cops have been called to the building - which has been closed since January - a 'number of times' following reports of kids hanging round outside.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue said: "Crews were alerted at 5.00pm.

"Fire Crews arrived to find a large building with an area of around 20 x 30 metres well alight.

"There have been reports of two people who have entered the building and have not yet come out.

"There are six fire appliances in attendance."

A factory in the area has been evacuated as firefighters continue to battle the blaze.

(Image: @simonwarbrick34 / Twitter)

(Image: @emberre/twitter)

Motorists are being warned to avoid the area.

Residents nearby have been told to stay inside and keep their windows shut.

Borough Road and nearby Prescot Road and Eccleston Street are all closed.