‘People trapped’ after Shaw explosion

One person has been taken to hospital with 80% burns following a large blast in the Shaw area of Oldham, the North West Ambulance Service has said.

Greater Manchester Police said the explosion happened in Buckley Street shortly after 11:15 BST.

Police, fire and ambulance services are at the scene and there were “possibly people trapped”, Greater Manchester Fire Service said.

Police and the fire service said it was a suspected gas explosion.

A fire service spokesman said: “The control room has received numerous calls from members of the public and the initial information from the public is that it involves a number of terraced properties.”

The ambulance service said the burns victim had been taken to Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester.

The blast is believed to have damaged two terraced houses.

A cordon is in place and a police helicopter is circling over the damaged properties.

Eye-witnesses half a mile away reported their homes were shaken by the explosion.