Elderly residents were evacuated from their homes in Telford today following two underground explosions which buckled the road surface.

Witnesses said they saw flames up to 50ft high.

The blasts are believed to have been caused by a gas or electrical fault and resulted in Hazel Way, Snedshill, being sealed off by police.

Fire officers today said two explosions had been reported in Hazel Way, which contains pensioners’ bungalows, between 8am and 8.30am.

No-one was injured but witnesses told of their shock.

Colin Pritchard, an employee of the Wrekin Housing Trust, said he had just arrived to carry out work on a bungalow in Hazel Way when the first explosion occurred at about 8am. “I saw 30ft to 50ft flames and heard a loud bang,” he said.

“I jumped into my van and parked it across the road to block the road off. Then I rang 999 and reported the incident.”

Keith Stubbs, 50, who lives in Hazel Way, said he helped evacuate residents from their homes. Residents were led to a nearby community centre.

“I saw the second explosion,” he said.

“It went about 20ft to 30ft in the air.”

Sub officer Paul Meredith, of Telford Central Fire Station, said there had been two explosions under the pavement in Hazel Way. “Transco and the electricity board are investigating,” he said.

Central Networks spokeswoman Rebecca Middleton said workers were investigating whether the explosions were linked to a problem with an underground electricity cable. “There was a fault with one of our electricity cables and supplies went off at 7.12am,” she said.

National Grid spokesman Graham McQuarrie said a gas engineer was on site but it was believed an electrical fault was to blame. Police said no-one had been hurt but the road had been sealed off at both ends to ensure public safety.

By Becky Parkinson and Andy Walker