This was the scene of devastation after a blast ripped apart a flat forcing residents to leave their homes  and leading to the closure of a busy main road in the Black Country.

A man inside the flat which was wrecked by the explosion escaped from the wreckage with burns to his hands.

The windows at the back of the shop were blown out while rubble was scattered across the back garden of the property.

People living near the flat today spoke of their shock at what happened when the blast rocked Wolverhampton Street, Dudley.

The road was partially sealed off between Southalls Lane and Stafford Street for several hours following the drama. Cynthia Burgin, who runs The Paper Shop in the same block of shops where the blast occurred was evacuated from her home for several hours along with her daughter Susan, son-in-law Jim and grandson Alex.

She said: “We heard a bang and we didn’t know what had happened, we could see the smoke. It was such a shock really.”

The family went to sit with their neighbour in Wolverhampton Street Dennis Wright.

He said: “At exactly 2.30pm there was an explosion, we went out and there was smoke coming out of the house. The wall was completely blown out.”

It is thought the man is the landlord of the property and rents it out to students although it is thought it has been empty for some time.

The explosion was in a extension at the back of a three storey block of shops on the road and it is thought a security guard at Dudley College raised the alarm which sent emergency services rushing to the scene.

When firefighters arrived they led the man outside before a search and rescue dog was sent in to check for any other victims.  A technical rescue unit then  shored up the building using timber.

The victim, a man in his 60s, was taken to Russells Hall Hospital for further treatment after suffering burns to his hands and face.