Three Shrewsbury explosion victims to sue BT

THREE OF the victims of the Shrewsbury explosion are to pursue claims against BT following allegations it is responsible for the blast which left 12 people injured.

Speculation erupted yesterday over what could have caused the explosion on January 3 that destroyed a town centre building.

The blast also caused widespread damage to surrounding properties.

It emerged that National Grid, in a solicitor's letter, made allegations about BT relating to the cause of the blast, which happened below a flat on the corner of Bridge Street and Smithfield Road.

Four people who were in the flat were seriously injured, while Kiley McDonnell, who was starring in a pantomime at Theatre Severn, was left paralysed after he was hit by falling rubble.

The letter from the solicitors for National Grid says that the McDonnell family is claiming compensation.

And today a Shrewsbury solicitor said he was representing two of the victims looking to pursue a claim against BT.

Jeremy Taylor, of Wace Morgan Solicitors, is representing Scott Godbold and Sarah Pearse who were both left with serious burns when the flat they lived in was destroyed in the blast.

Scott's dad Steve Godbold said: "We've been told it looks like BT is to blame but it can't be confirmed until they have been prosecuted."

Mr Taylor said: "Both Scott and Sarah deserve recompense for what they've been through. The Health and Safety Executive report is due and the people of Shrewsbury are entitled to know what happened.

"The evidence is quite compelling against BT and I would hope in those circumstances it is not dragged out through the courts."

He added the presence of a gas supply or cylinders in the flat or empty shop below it had been ruled out and photos taken by National Grid appeared to show a fracture in a pipe which built up under the property.

National Grid has refused to comment but BT said it was aware of the claims against the company but had seen no evidence to support the allegations.

Emma Tennant, a spokeswoman for BT, said they were liaising with the parties to determine the facts and bases of any claims but they believed there was no evidence against BT.

By Emma Kasprzak