This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/6694385.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Driver dies in welding van blast | Driver dies in welding van blast |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A driver was killed when a van carrying welding equipment exploded in a County Durham market town. | A driver was killed when a van carrying welding equipment exploded in a County Durham market town. |
| Windows in shops and homes were left shattered and wreckage was strewn across the centre of Wolsingham, near Bishop Auckland. | Windows in shops and homes were left shattered and wreckage was strewn across the centre of Wolsingham, near Bishop Auckland. |
| Homes near the scene were evacuated after the blast, which happened at 0700 BST on Saturday. | Homes near the scene were evacuated after the blast, which happened at 0700 BST on Saturday. |
| It is not yet known what caused the oxy-acetylene cylinders to explode when the driver stopped his van near shops. | |
| I ran to check on my son, who sleeps at the front of the house. He wasn't injured, but he was completely showered with glass Resident Catherine Dipper | |
| A Durham Police spokesman said: "We can confirm the van driver died in the incident. | A Durham Police spokesman said: "We can confirm the van driver died in the incident. |
| "The entire market place area has been sealed off for safety reasons." | "The entire market place area has been sealed off for safety reasons." |
| No details of the victim were being released, he added. | No details of the victim were being released, he added. |
| One resident said the van was obliterated in the explosion, which sounded "like a bomb going off". | One resident said the van was obliterated in the explosion, which sounded "like a bomb going off". |
| Catherine Dipper, whose house was damaged by the blast, said: "I was woken by a big explosion and I knew it wasn't a firework or a car backfiring. | |
| "I went to investigate and found every single window at the front of the house had been blown in. | |
| In pictures: Wolsingham blast | In pictures: Wolsingham blast |
| "I ran to check on my son, who sleeps at the front of the house. He wasn't injured, but he was completely showered with glass. | |
| "Then I went to the front door and saw bits of the van everywhere." | |
| Ms Dipper was evacuated from her home and could face a wait of 48 hours before being allowed back, she said. | |
| It is not yet known if buildings in the immediate area of the explosion have suffered structural damage. | |
| A spokesman for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said crews could be at the scene throughout the day until the cylinders had cooled down. | A spokesman for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said crews could be at the scene throughout the day until the cylinders had cooled down. |
| He said: "We believe there are cylinders involved and we need to be very careful. They can take up to 24 hours to cool and that's our priority at the moment." | He said: "We believe there are cylinders involved and we need to be very careful. They can take up to 24 hours to cool and that's our priority at the moment." |
| No-one else is thought to have been hurt in the explosion, on the A689 - the main road which runs through Wolsingham. | |
| Are you near the area? Did you see or hear what happened? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. | Are you near the area? Did you see or hear what happened? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. |
| Send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |