The legal team behind compensation claims for the victims of the Buncefield depot blast have made fresh calls for a public enquiry into the devastating explosion.

Hundreds of victims of the catastrophe which rocked Hemel Hempstead before Christmas, have signed petitions and handed them to law firm Collins Solicitors prompting the move.

The company which specialises in civil litigation acting for the victims of accidents, is already dealing with claims from 20 families directly affected by the explosion, which decimated homes and businesses within a one mile radius of the site.

They wrote to Home Secretary Charles Clark this week requesting further action on behalf of the victims who they believe are entitled to compensation totalling around half a million pounds.

An independent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been ordered by Des Collins, senior partner at the Watford based practice, believes the Government must go one step further and order an open enquiry.

“I think a public inquiry is the only realistic way forward for this” he told The Gazette this week.

“Most of the damage to people’s property will be covered by their insurance but there is inevitably a shortfall – for example excess payments and increased insurance premiums – which victims cannot hope to recover.

“We are surprised a public inquiry has not been ordered thus far. It is hugely important for the town of Hemel Hempstead and others around the country close to similar depots.

“There are some really, really injured families out there. Maybe not physically, but psychologically.

“They have had property damaged, suffered loss of income and business, may not have been back to work or have been made redundant.

“Three or four weeks on they are the ones without any money coming in to the household on a Friday and they deserve something more”.

The cause of the Buncefield blast is still unknown at this stage, but an interim report from the HSE is expected within the next few days at which point it is hoped the process of compensation will gather pace.

Legal action, if it is brought against depot operators Total and the British Pipeline Agency, could take years and the full extent of the circumstances which led to the catastrophe on December 11 may not be known for years.

But Collins, which was heavily involved with the public enquiry into the Paddington and Potters Bar rail disasters believe compensation could be settled within months.

“The whole legal process with the disasters we’ve dealt with have taken up to six years to resolve he said.

“But I would think that as soon as the interim report has been published the oil industry will act sensibly and as a whole to pay out.

“They should leave the decision of individual insurance companies as to who is responsible for what, to lawyers acting behind the scenes.

“That should hopefully see claims settled sooner rather than later”.

The firm is expecting a response to its letter to the Government by the end of next week.