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Eight hurt in building explosion Six injured in town centre blast
(30 minutes later)
At least eight people were injured, some seriously, when a building collapsed in an explosion in Shrewsbury town centre. At least six people were injured, two seriously, when a building collapsed in an explosion in Shrewsbury town centre.
Police were called to the scene of the blast at the corner of Smithfield Road next to Welsh Bridge at about 1125 GMT. Police were called to the scene on Bridge Street at about 1125 GMT.
Ambulances and an air ambulance attended and streets were cordoned off. Ambulances and an air ambulance attended the site - thought to contain an empty shop and some flats - and streets were cordoned off.
West Mercia Police said those hurt were a mixture of seriously injured and "walking wounded". Some were taken to hospitals in the area. One woman was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham with burns to her head, neck and chest. A man in his 20s had spinal injuries.
There was an unconfirmed report of one person being trapped in the remains of the building, thought to be an empty shop. A police spokesman said the building was demolished. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. Four other "walking wounded" were taken to hospital and everyone was accounted for, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.
According to one report a young woman in her teens suffered burns and a man had spinal injuries. West Mercia Police said the building was demolished, and an ambulance service spokesman said the top section of a block of flats had collapsed.
Police said it was not clear what had caused the explosion.
'Huge explosion''Huge explosion'
Christopher Hobbs, who lives about a quarter of a mile from the site, said he had seen two casualties.Christopher Hobbs, who lives about a quarter of a mile from the site, said he had seen two casualties.
He said: "We were in the house watching TV this morning. We heard this huge explosion. It sounded like the chimney had fallen off our house or something. It felt like the whole building shook.He said: "We were in the house watching TV this morning. We heard this huge explosion. It sounded like the chimney had fallen off our house or something. It felt like the whole building shook.
The incident happened on Sunday morningThe incident happened on Sunday morning
"The building that used to stand on the corner is nothing but a pile of rubble. There was smoke billowing from the area. They brought two casualties through - one on a wheelchair and one on a stretcher.""The building that used to stand on the corner is nothing but a pile of rubble. There was smoke billowing from the area. They brought two casualties through - one on a wheelchair and one on a stretcher."
BBC reporter Tom Warren, who is at the scene, said there was rubble on the street and fire crews were on site.BBC reporter Tom Warren, who is at the scene, said there was rubble on the street and fire crews were on site.
He said: "I heard a loud bang while shopping in the town centre and came down to see what it was.He said: "I heard a loud bang while shopping in the town centre and came down to see what it was.
"It looked like there'd been an explosion, because there was rubble strewn outside. I saw lots of ambulances and the air ambulance arrived.""It looked like there'd been an explosion, because there was rubble strewn outside. I saw lots of ambulances and the air ambulance arrived."
The blast reportedly damaged nearby buildings, including the multi-million pound Theatre Severn which opened last year.The blast reportedly damaged nearby buildings, including the multi-million pound Theatre Severn which opened last year.

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