A mum from Sidcup has been left shocked after an “explosion” which was thought to be a ULEZ camera “destroyed” her three-year-old son’s bedroom. 

Ms Sinclair heard a “bomb-like” explosion outside her house in Willersley Avenue at around 7pm yesterday (December 6)

The 30-year-old was inside her house with her two sons, aged three and five, as the incident unfolded.

The mum of two sons said that it was a miracle that no one was “seriously hurt or killed" and her family was lucky to have come out of the house unharmed.

She said: “It was just like a huge boom, I then ran outside.

“We were confused of what had happened. Then we saw a van outside our house which had a huge whole in it with smoke coming out of it.”

Footage from a CCTV camera of a house nearby captures the moments before the explosion unfolds.

Seconds later, an explosion erupts in the distance and all traffic comes to a standstill.

Ms Sinclair, who has lived in Willersey Avenue for two and a half years, said after the explosion erupted it tore through her three-year-old son’s bedroom.

She explained: “Everything is destroyed, my two children would have usually been getting ready at the time the explosion happened.

“Luckily, they were not in there. You don’t think anything is going to happen to your child’s safe space.

“It’s crazy to think.”

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said a ULEZ camera van, car and bus were left damaged as a result of the incident.

One man was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews and no further injuries were reported.

Ms Sinclair's children are struggling to understand what has happened to their bedroom after seeing it “destroyed.”

It was heartbreaking for Mrs Sinclair to walk her children to school this morning through police cordons as forensics were investigating the incident.

She explained: “Police and forensics in hazmat suits are still everywhere this morning.

“They’re doing a great job.

“My husband is not pulling the blinds in the house down because we don’t want the children to see what’s going on.

“There’s just debris everywhere in the house and bedroom. It’s not a nice place for the right now.

“It hurts to see this. It’s not safe.

“Thank God no one was killed. We are very lucky.”

In a different footage it captures the aftermath of the explosion which shows debris strewn across the road, a huge dent in the side of a van and a chunk taken out of a brick wall.

It also shows people lined up on the street looking shocked as the incident is dealt with.

A person, who can be heard speaking in the footage, says: “ULEZ camera van has been dismantled.

“Blown the geezers van in half.

“Broke the geezers fence, it’s like a WW2 explosion that just went off.”

Ms Sinclair says that neighbours have supported each other throughout the “tragic” incident.

She added: “The whole street is just very supportive of each other. It really does bring a tear to my eyes.

“It’s such tightknit community, everyone is very kind to each other.”

The incident was over for firefighters just before 11.30pm.

No arrests have been made and police enquiries into the circumstances continue.  

A spokesperson from London Ambulance Service said: “We were called (Wednesday 6 December 2023) at 7.16pm to an incident at Willersley Avenue, Sidcup.

“We sent a small number of resources to the incident, and cared for one patient who was discharged at the scene.”

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police said: Police were called to Willersley Avenue, Sidcup at about 18:47hrs on Wednesday, 6 December following reports that a ULEZ camera had exploded.

“Officers attended alongside colleagues in LFB.

“No one was injured.

“No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

“Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is encouraged to call 101 quoting CAD 5819/06DEC.”

Full statement from London Fire Brigade says: “Firefighters from Eltham Fire Station responded to an incident on Willersley Avenue in Sidcup yesterday.

“A ULEZ camera, car and bus were damaged as a result of the incident.

“One man was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

“The Brigade was called at 1847 and the incident was over for firefighters at 2331, and the scene was left with the Metropolitan Police Service.”