Star Reader Mrs McHale Morris’s pictures of the fire in Broseley

A Shropshire town was rocked by a massive explosion this morning which destroyed a takeaway shop.

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

Neighbours described it as being like a “bomb going off”.

See our photo gallery here

They 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 explosion. “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. At this stage we don’t know what caused the explosion and are investigating. I would say glass was blown at least 60ft and the walls were all destroyed.

“The area has been cordoned off and gas and electricity were isolated.

“Though the first call was to persons trapped, there was no-one in the premises.”

It is understood the owners of the chip shop are away on holiday, although relatives visited the scene in the early hours of today.

Chris Morris, of Delphside Court, Broseley, was watching TV with his wife Mchale, when they heard a massive “boom”.

Mr Morris said the couple rushed to the window where they could see flames shooting up from the fish and chip shop, about 150 yards away. They then called the fire service.

“The fire just ignited so fast, it looked as if there would be no stopping it,” he said. “We did not know what the noise was at first.”

Jill Ward, 46, of Hockley Road, Broseley, said: “There was rumbling and rumbling and then it was like a bomb had gone off. The door flew off and hit the lamp post across the road.”

Yvonne Miles said: “A lot of the glass was blown up the road, including quite big pieces which could have hurt people.”

One fire crew remained at the scene this morning, as the fire investigation was launched.

National Grid spokeswoman Jane Taylor said the gas to the property had been cut off until further notice.