IT was as moving as it was simple.

At two minutes past noon the families of the Maryhill blast victims stood united as they held one minute's silence to remember their loved ones.

Nine people died and 33 were injured in the explosion which destroyed the ICL/Stockline Plastics factory at 12.02pm five years ago.

As traffic rumbled past on nearby Maryhill Road, about 70 people stood in quiet contemplation among the nine standing stones in the remembrance garden which bear the names of those who lost their lives.

As on that fateful day exactly five years ago, the sun was splitting the sky. The wreath-laying ceremony in the memorial garden was to mark the fifth anniversary of the tragedy. Many of the survivors were pulled from the rubble by rescue crews who also attended.

It followed a memorial service led by Father John O'Connor in nearby St Columba's Church, where nine candles burned on the altar , one for each of those who lost their lives, Close family and friends of the victims filled the church along with the Labour MSP for Maryhill, Patricia Ferguson, and the STUC's Ian Tasker.

Father John O'Connor, who joined the parish three and a half years ago, said after the service: "When I arrived I found a community which was very warm but still very hurt. The fact that there were so many unresolved questions was painful. But they have stuck together, the different families, which has made a big difference.

"Today, the memories of their loved ones are very precious and the love hasn't dimmed in all that time."

Brian Sweeney, Chief Officer of Strathclyde Fire Brigade, was one of those to lay a wreath.

"It was one of the most significant incidents in our area," he said.

"It certainly had an impact on all those who attended, particularly given the weather today- it was very hot on that day too. For such a tragedy to happen on such a beautiful day ... "

Several of the firefighters involved in the rescue had to receive counselling afterwards.

"Some of them were involved in rescues which took 24 or 36 hours and that gets to you emotionally, particularly if the rescue wasn't successful," said Mr Sweeney.

"It's very difficult to hold someone's hand for 24 hours and then they don't make it. They are professional firefighters and have to deal with it, but no-one is a robot.

"The garden will allow relatives to have a place where they can remember the people they lost."

The disaster occurred when petroleum gas vapours leaked from a corroded pipe and ignited, destroying the building and trapping workers under mounds of rubble.

For many attending yesterday, their grief is tinged with anger. An inquiry was held at Maryhill's Community Centre, yards from the scene of the tragedy, to examine the circumstances of the blast and prevent a similar disaster. It ended last October and has still to report.

ICL Plastics and ICL Tech, which operated the factory, were fined £400,000 in 2007 after a hearing at Glasgow High Court found they had breached health and safety laws.