Twelve hurt in gas blast

Twelve people have been injured following a suspected gas explosion in Shrewsbury town centre yesterday.

At least two of those hurt have suffered serious injuries and remain in hospital following the blast which destroyed a block of flats.

Five people were also trapped under rubble in a car and had to be pulled free.

Council officials have shut many of the roads in the town centre to pedestrians and traffic, including Bridge Street, Barker Street, Victoria Quay, Smithfield Road and Roushill.

The blast caused a “scene of total devastation” in Shrewsbury town centre, according to Superintendent Peter Lightwood of West Mercia Police.

He added it was a surprise no-one had been killed in the explosion at a block of flats on the corner of Bridge Street and Smithfield Road, near Welsh Bridge.

“The cause of the explosion is unknown,” he said. “We are aware the casualties woke to the smell of gas.”

A woman in her early 20s was blown out of the building from the first floor and suffered serious burns, a spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said
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The emergency services found her lying in the street outside.

Pamela Salter, 62, whose flat overlooks the area, described how her building shook with the force of the explosion.

She told the BBC: “I think everyone heard it. It was a huge noise and a huge vibration.

“The building shook, all the window panes shook.

“I think we all thought it was a bomb. We looked out of the window and saw a plume of rubble rising in the air.

“It was incredible. And that was before the smoke and fire.”