PART of a tanker lorry "exploded" at York's Nestle factory, sending metal and liquid chocolate across a yard, The Press has been told.

Sources say a worker was very lucky not be seriously injured, having been hit by a piece of flying foam but not the metal nor several tonnes of chocolate that shot out of the tanker.

Nestle confirmed an investigation had been launched.

A spokeswoman said today: “We can confirm that a few weeks ago a third party supplier’s tanker failed causing the rear domed end to tear. The contents of the tanker were released.

"Nobody was hurt as a result of this incident. An investigation into the root cause is under way.”