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| Driver dies in welding van blast | Driver dies in welding van blast |
| (10 minutes 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. |
| The 33-year-old local man, who worked as a welder near Durham, was in the van when the oxy-acetylene cylinders exploded. | |
| Homes near the scene were evacuated after the incident on Saturday. | |
| It is not yet known what caused the blast but Durham Police said there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances. | |
| The victim, who is married, had stopped at shops shortly beforehand, but it is believed the van was moving when it exploded. | The victim, who is married, had stopped at shops shortly beforehand, but it is believed the van was moving when it exploded. |
| 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 | 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 |
| Speaking on Saturday afternoon, a police spokesman said: "The centre of the town will remain cordoned off overnight and into Sunday. | Speaking on Saturday afternoon, a police spokesman said: "The centre of the town will remain cordoned off overnight and into Sunday. |
| "One of the cylinders is still in the market place and has to be cooled down for no less than 24 hours." | "One of the cylinders is still in the market place and has to be cooled down for no less than 24 hours." |
| It is likely to be some time before the victim is formally identified, he added. | It is likely to be some time before the victim is formally identified, 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. | 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. | "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. | "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." | "Then I went to the front door and saw bits of the van everywhere." |
| Ms Dipper was forced to leave her home and could face a wait of 48 hours before being allowed back. | |
| It is not yet known if buildings in the immediate area of the explosion suffered structural damage. | |
| No-one else was hurt in the explosion, on the A689 - the main road which runs through Wolsingham. | No-one else was hurt in the explosion, on the A689 - the main road which runs through Wolsingham. |
| Durham Police has set up two public help lines containing road closure details and related information. | |
| The numbers are 01325 742549 and 742565. | The numbers are 01325 742549 and 742565. |
| 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. |