Flats blast rescue

A CREW from Chadderton was among 80 firefighters who tackled a gas explosion and fire that wrecked a block of flats and left two occupants with serious burns.

They joined colleagues from Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire at Worsley Mesnes in Wigan when the three-storey block collapsed on Saturday night.

A 26-year-old man is critical but stable with serious burns in Whiston Hospital, and a 43-year old man is being treated at Wythenshawe Hospital burns unit. Neither’s injuries are believed to be life threatening.

Altogether, 36 residents were evacuated from the council block after the second and third central storeys collapsed onto the ground floor at 9.20pm. Roads were closed and police officers from Oldham helped to deal with the emergency.

The blaze was under control just after midnight, when a search and rescue operation began to find any more casualties. Eight people also suffered minor injuries, asthma and angina attacks, and the effects of smoke.