'Bomb' fears in chippy blast
Residents in Broseley today told how they feared that a bomb had gone off when a huge explosion destroyed a chip shop, turning it into an inferno.
Shropshire Star reader Trevor Griffiths, of Broseley, says he took this photograph just two minutes after the explosion
Residents in Broseley today told how they feared that a bomb had gone off when a huge explosion destroyed a chip shop, turning it into an inferno.
People throughout the town saw flames from Broseley Chippy, High Street, leaping into the air at about 2.15am. Jason Maddox, 28, was one of the first on the scene after fleeing from his house, the nearest property to the chip shop.
Mr Maddox said the first sign anything was wrong was when his electric went off.
"I came downstairs and couldn't see anything and then I heard the bang, he said. "I looked out of the window and I was shocked.
"The whole building shuddered. All of the smoke was just billowing out and I just thought I had to get out. There were flames everywhere."
Mr Maddox said he was only allowed back into his property seven hours later.
Richard Homer, 36, who lives above Broseley News, which his father owns, said: "I heard an explosion and the whole building shuddered. A few seconds later I heard broken glass and I thought it was a ram raid.
Earthquake
"It wasn't until I got out of the back that I saw the sparks flying over the back. All I could see was the embers going up into the sky.
"It was like a bomb going off – the whole place shuddered."
Debra Griffiths, who lives in High Street, said the explosion was like an earthquake.
"It was 2am and there was this awful load bang. I originally thought it was the power station or something.
"The building was completely in flames and was already destroyed, so it must have been burning beforehand."
Residents reported hearing the bang a mile away.
Jill Ward, of Hockley Road, arrived at the scene within 10 minutes after being woken by the bang.
"It was a huge glow and the building had fallen," she said. "The force of the explosion sent the glass and door flying at least 50 to 60ft."
Yvonne Miles compared the scene to the blitz.
A shop worker at Spar in High Street, said: "My main concern was if anyone was injured because the debris was right over the road.
"If it had have happened in the middle of the day it could have been so much worse."
By Kirsty Smallman and Rachael Lowe
