Apocalyptic Scenes On UK Island Where Scientists Experimented With Anthrax

Scotland's Gruinard Island has gone up in the flames, with eyewitnesses describing the blaze as 'apocalyptic'.

It became known as 'Anthrax island' because of the contamination from the bacteria. The bacteria, known as Bacillus anthracis, spreads an infectious disease that can prove fatal, particularly if inhaled.

At around 8:30pm on Saturday, smoke could be smelt five miles away in Aultbea where Kate Gearing and her daughter Nessie live.

"We could hear birds crying, screaming, and then suddenly there was silence - but the flames went on, it was awful."

The 25-year-old said the blaze looked like a 'hell fire'.

Porton Down previously tried to remove all anthrax spores from the island by setting it alight.

However, the spores appeared 'surprisingly resistant to degradation' when the soil was checked by experts.

In 1986, in a bid to return Gruinard to its condition pre WW2, the island was continuously treated with seawater and formaldehyde and tested by a team of scientists.

While the island was eventually declared free of Anthrax in 1990, it has remained uninhabited ever since.

"The island is pretty black now. There's just a few trees left standing, along the shoreline.

"I'm just hoping there aren't any anthrax spores left around anywhere," Kate reflected.

However, the retired GP explained that the island is far enough away from the shore that it shouldn't pose a threat to the mainland.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service warned that the risk of wildfires was 'very high' earlier this week.

However, it stated that because Gruinard Island is uninhabited, the area 'would not fall under [its] remit'.