Flat wrecked as blast injures woman

A pensioner was badly burned and windows were blown out after a huge gas blast hit a block of flats in Bilston.

The victim, named locally as 88-year-old Mary Hale, had to be rescued by neighbours following the explosion in King Street, Bradley, which left her kitchen devastated.

Around 20 other families in the building and the adjacent block were evacuated and taken to the nearby Bradley Resource Centre while structural engineers assessed the damage.

The force of the blast, which happened at 7.45am yesterday, blew window panes to the other side of the road, damaged a chimney and caused fascias on the block to bow.

National Grid's investigations have pointed to a fractured gas main but company spokeswoman Sarah Wilcox said inquiries were continuing.

The explosion is believed to have originated in the ground-floor flat of Mrs Hale, who suffered 30 per cent burns and was taken to Selly Oak Hospital where her condition was described as serious but stable.

A car parked outside the flats was written off, yet inside Mrs Hales' flat a grandfather clock could still be seen ticking and a family photograph has escaped unscathed.

Bradley neighbourhood policing team officer Pc Chris Finch said anyone walking on the other side of the road, which was littered with shards of glass, would have been killed.

Alan Sillitto, a 40-year-old father-of-three, was woken up by the bang and rushed to help.

He ran across the road and was the first person on the scene with his neighbour Neil Jones.

He turned off the building's gas mains and put a small fire in Mrs Hale's kitchen out before helping the shocked woman out through the window along with Mr Jones.

Builder Mr Sillitto said: "It was just the natural thing to do. She was just sitting on the couch and was obviously in shock. She didn't want to move when I got to her and she kept saying she was too cold.

"Neil and I picked her up and carried her through the window. Then I banged on all the other doors to get the residents out."

Of Mr Sillitto's quick-thinking, Pc Finch said: "He's a brave chap.

"Mrs Hale is lucky to be alive and we're incredibly lucky that no-one was killed, because this was quite a blast."

Thelma Philpott lives in the flat above Mrs Hale's.

"The 73-year-old said: "I was just getting out of bed and there was a mighty bang so I looked out the window and all I could see was window frames and wreckage.

"I thought 'blimey' I didn't think the weather was that bad'.

"And then somebody rang my bell saying 'get out, there's been an explosion.' "All the neighbours were here within minutes.

"The police have told us we're lucky to be alive – it hasn't really sunk in yet."

At the back of the flats the smell of gas was still strong yesterday, and broken window frames and bricks lay scattered around the yard with children's toys.

Mrs Philpott added: "I was concerned about Mrs Hale because she lives on her own so when I got out my flat I rushed to the ambulance and spoke to her. She was able to talk.

"I rang her niece in Telford and she said they were on their way straight away.

"I think they took her to New Cross Hospital at first but then to the burns unit in Selly Oak. We were all evacuated to Bradley Resource Centre where they gave us food and drink – they really are to be complimented because they looked after us."

Workmen from Wolverhampton Homes, which manages the city's council housing stock, made the flat secure as the night drew in.

Jane Taylor, on behalf of National Grid, said today neighbours were allowed to return to their properties at 4pm yesterday after the building was given the all-clear from structural engineers.

It is understood Mrs Hale will have to be temporarily rehomed when she is discharged from hospital while repairs to her flat are carried out.