Explosion rips chippie apart

A Midlands town was rocked by a massive explosion today which destroyed a chip shop.

Shards of glass were blown 60ft across the road and flames leapt high into the air in the blast which gutted the takeaway in Broseley, Shropshire, at about 2.15am.

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Neighbours, who described it as being like a "bomb going off", said it was a miracle no-one was hurt.

At its height, 30 firefighters were tackling the blaze which fire chiefs described as "one of the most severe incidents" they had seen in some time. Mike Ablitt, principal fire officer, said the building had been demolished by the time he arrived. "Crews managed to get the actual fire under control within about half-an-hour, but it was the explosion which caused the building to be demolished," he said.

"It will be a gas explosion of some sort, but that could be mains gas, from fumes built up or flammable items. I would say glass was blown at least 60ft."

It is understood the owners of the Broseley Chippy are away on holiday.