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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Woman 'critical' after explosion | Woman 'critical' after explosion |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A woman is critically ill in hospital following an explosion which destroyed a building in Shrewsbury. | A woman is critically ill in hospital following an explosion which destroyed a building in Shrewsbury. |
| Sarah Pearse, 19, was one of 12 people hurt in the blast which police believe was caused by a gas leak. | Sarah Pearse, 19, was one of 12 people hurt in the blast which police believe was caused by a gas leak. |
| Another woman and a man were said to be in a "critical but stable" condition following the incident on the corner of Bridge Street and Smithfield Road. | Another woman and a man were said to be in a "critical but stable" condition following the incident on the corner of Bridge Street and Smithfield Road. |
| Four of those who were injured are being treated at a burns unit at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. | Four of those who were injured are being treated at a burns unit at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. |
| Another male with serious back injuries is at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. | Another male with serious back injuries is at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. |
| One woman who was inside the flats was flung from a room in the first floor of the building on to the street. | One woman who was inside the flats was flung from a room in the first floor of the building on to the street. |
| Pantomime star injured | Pantomime star injured |
| Another man was trapped on the ground floor and five people in a car outside were dragged free by bystanders after the vehicle was hit by rubble. | Another man was trapped on the ground floor and five people in a car outside were dragged free by bystanders after the vehicle was hit by rubble. |
| Police said it was surprising no-one died in Sunday morning's incident. | Police said it was surprising no-one died in Sunday morning's incident. |
| Kiley McDonnell, who played Jovial Jake in the Theatre Severn production of Peter Pan, was among those who were seriously injured. | Kiley McDonnell, who played Jovial Jake in the Theatre Severn production of Peter Pan, was among those who were seriously injured. |
| Several town centre roads were shut after the explosion | Several town centre roads were shut after the explosion |
| Police and Health and Safety Executive contractors have been at the scene near Welsh Bridge. | Police and Health and Safety Executive contractors have been at the scene near Welsh Bridge. |
| Supt Martin Whitelegg, from West Mercia Police, said: "There is no evidence that this was a criminal incident, we are not treating it as a crime at this current time. | Supt Martin Whitelegg, from West Mercia Police, said: "There is no evidence that this was a criminal incident, we are not treating it as a crime at this current time. |
| "It is being treated as a probable gas leak... it is believed the explosion was caused by an escape of gas in the vicinity, either in the street or in the building." | "It is being treated as a probable gas leak... it is believed the explosion was caused by an escape of gas in the vicinity, either in the street or in the building." |
| A police spokesman said on-site investigations would continue for "several days, if not a week". | A police spokesman said on-site investigations would continue for "several days, if not a week". |
| Witnesses have told officers they could smell gas in the area close to the flats before the explosion at 1130 GMT and a nearby gas main has been isolated, the police spokesman added. | Witnesses have told officers they could smell gas in the area close to the flats before the explosion at 1130 GMT and a nearby gas main has been isolated, the police spokesman added. |
| Shrewsbury Sixth Form College said it would remain shut on Tuesday as the police cordon is being maintained and access to the college buildings is severely limited. | |
| Bridge Street, Barker Street, Welsh Bridge, Mardol, and Victoria Quay remained closed on Monday afternoon. | Bridge Street, Barker Street, Welsh Bridge, Mardol, and Victoria Quay remained closed on Monday afternoon. |
| 'Open for business' | 'Open for business' |
| But Wyle Cop and High Street are open and Smithfield Road is open to traffic from the direction of the railway station as far as Roushill for people to access Raven Meadows car park. | But Wyle Cop and High Street are open and Smithfield Road is open to traffic from the direction of the railway station as far as Roushill for people to access Raven Meadows car park. |
| Car parks in the Barker Street area remain closed, but all other town centre car parks are open. | Car parks in the Barker Street area remain closed, but all other town centre car parks are open. |
| Tim Sneddon, Shropshire Council's head of environmental maintenance, said: "We are determined to get the centre of Shrewsbury moving again as soon as we can, but the safety of the public must be our main priority. | Tim Sneddon, Shropshire Council's head of environmental maintenance, said: "We are determined to get the centre of Shrewsbury moving again as soon as we can, but the safety of the public must be our main priority. |
| "There is a lot of cleaning up to do in the Bridge Street area following the explosion. | "There is a lot of cleaning up to do in the Bridge Street area following the explosion. |
| "It is likely that the Welsh Bridge and Bridge Street itself will remain closed for the next day or two. | "It is likely that the Welsh Bridge and Bridge Street itself will remain closed for the next day or two. |
| "However, we are keen to stress that Shrewsbury is still open for business." | "However, we are keen to stress that Shrewsbury is still open for business." |
| Phone lines | Phone lines |
| The explosion left about 3,500 BT customers without broadband services and some people without telephone services. | The explosion left about 3,500 BT customers without broadband services and some people without telephone services. |
| On Monday afternoon a BT spokeswoman said its engineers were not allowed to access the site but were on standby to start work as soon as it was declared safe. | On Monday afternoon a BT spokeswoman said its engineers were not allowed to access the site but were on standby to start work as soon as it was declared safe. |
| The box office at Theatre Severn, which had some minor damage caused by the explosion, was closed on Monday afternoon following problems with phone lines and internet access. | The box office at Theatre Severn, which had some minor damage caused by the explosion, was closed on Monday afternoon following problems with phone lines and internet access. |
| The theatre has no shows scheduled until 15 January, but it will be open on Tuesday for people wanting to use the Chapel Bar or the restaurant. | The theatre has no shows scheduled until 15 January, but it will be open on Tuesday for people wanting to use the Chapel Bar or the restaurant. |
| The theatre was built at a cost of £30m and was officially opened by the Earl of Wessex in March last year. | The theatre was built at a cost of £30m and was officially opened by the Earl of Wessex in March last year. |