LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - British police said an explosion and chemical fire on an industrial estate in northern England on Monday was not linked to two failed London car bombings and an attack on Scotland's busiest airport.

Flames and thick black smoke billowed into the air after drums of chemicals exploded on a waste recycling site near Preston, 220 miles (350 km) northwest of London.

"It is not being linked to any of the events at the weekend," a police spokeswoman said.

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