Emergency services have been dispatched to Staffordshire after an explosion has reportedly “blown apart” several buildings near Alton Towers.
Police, ambulances and firefighters were called to the scene at a holiday cottage in Alton this afternoon, and found a woman “in her 50s had suffered “serious burns”.
A spokesman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We have extinguished a fire at a holiday cottage in Alton this afternoon (December 29) following reports of a gas explosion.
“Crews from Longton and Hanley were sent to an address on Bradley Lane, Threapwood, shortly after 12.40pm. Our colleagues from Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service also went to the scene.
“Firefighters used hose reel jets to extinguish the fire, which was put out around 1.30pm. Emergency services carried out a search in the area to make sure everyone was accounted for in the neighbouring properties.
“A woman, in her 50s, suffered serious burns at the scene. She was taken to hospital by air ambulance. As a result of the explosion, the building was destroyed. Gas engineers came out and isolated the supply to make sure the area was left safe. An investigation into what caused the explosion is ongoing and emergency services will remain at the scene.”
THIS IS A LIVE BLOG. FOLLOW BELOW FOR UPDATES.
