Unknown event in United Kingdom on Fri 29th December 2023

'Explosion' LIVE: One injured as three cabins near Alton Towers destroyed  
A huge emergency response rushed to the scene at Bradley in the Moors, which is around four miles from Alton Towers theme park, after receiving reports of two buildings being blown apart  A woman has been left with "serious" burns after a massive explosion tore through a holiday cottage near Alton Towers.

The blast reportedly happened in Bradley in the Moors, which is around four miles from the popular theme park in Alton, Stoke on Trent. Eyewitnesses reported seeing two buildings blown apart, while others said three log cabins had been destroyed.

Tommy Beardmore, 59, says his elderly dad of the same name was one of the first on the scene. He told StokeonTrent Live.: "There's been an explosion near Alton. Two buildings blew up within the hour. My dad was the first on the scene and helped someone who was injured. He's a hero.

"All the emergency services are here. The windows of nearby properties have been blown out and there's debris all over the floor and in the trees."

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue this evening confirmed that a woman in her 50s had been left with severe burns after the explosion tore through a holiday cottage, and that she was airlifted to hospital.

Gas company Cadent issues statement

A Cadent spokesman said: “As the gas emergency service we were called to an incident in Bradley in the Moors at 1.10pm this afternoon. Our engineers were on site assisting the emergency services as is routine in incidents like this.

“Thorough checks have been made and the property affected was not connected to a mains gas supply. As such, the investigation into what has happened will be carried out by the emergency services when safe to do so.