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| Clacton explosion: Essex Police investigate blast cause | Clacton explosion: Essex Police investigate blast cause |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Crime scene investigators are searching for the cause of an explosion that flattened two homes and injured 10 people. | Crime scene investigators are searching for the cause of an explosion that flattened two homes and injured 10 people. |
| The blast in Cloes Lane in Clacton, on Wednesday morning, was described by Essex Fire Service as "extraordinary". | |
| A man in his 70s and a woman in her 50s were badly burnt and are in a "stable" condition at Broomfield Hospital. | A man in his 70s and a woman in her 50s were badly burnt and are in a "stable" condition at Broomfield Hospital. |
| The investigation into the cause of the explosion is being led by Essex Police, who have been searching for evidence. | |
| The two semi-detached houses were demolished overnight and sealed off from the public with tall metal fencing. A third house was badly damaged but has not been demolished. | The two semi-detached houses were demolished overnight and sealed off from the public with tall metal fencing. A third house was badly damaged but has not been demolished. |
| The police cordon has been lifted allowing traffic to once again use Cloes Lane. | The police cordon has been lifted allowing traffic to once again use Cloes Lane. |
| All but those living in the immediate area surrounding the blast site have been allowed to return home. | All but those living in the immediate area surrounding the blast site have been allowed to return home. |
| The remaining eight injured were taken to Colchester Hospital with injuries including burns and broken legs. | The remaining eight injured were taken to Colchester Hospital with injuries including burns and broken legs. |
| Seven of them have since been discharged. | Seven of them have since been discharged. |
| Essex Fire Service, Essex Police, the Health and Safety Executive and the National Grid are carrying out an investigation into the cause of the blast. | Essex Fire Service, Essex Police, the Health and Safety Executive and the National Grid are carrying out an investigation into the cause of the blast. |
| Stephanie van Rosse, from the National Grid, said it did not appear as though there were any faults in the pipes leading up to the gas meters of the three badly-damaged houses. | |
| She said further tests would be carried out once demolition work had been completed. | |
| No recent mains replacement work in the area had been carried out, she said. | No recent mains replacement work in the area had been carried out, she said. |
| Paul Reed wrote on a Facebook page set up to support those affected: "My mum and other family was in the house you are seeing on the news, all of them are in hospital being treated, but don't have any news at the min. | Paul Reed wrote on a Facebook page set up to support those affected: "My mum and other family was in the house you are seeing on the news, all of them are in hospital being treated, but don't have any news at the min. |
| "All of the belongings have been destroyed." | "All of the belongings have been destroyed." |
| Clacton resident Kerry Jones-Montague, who set up the group, said: "People are offering lifts, furniture, crockery, whatever they can." | Clacton resident Kerry Jones-Montague, who set up the group, said: "People are offering lifts, furniture, crockery, whatever they can." |