Shop gas blast brings road chaos

A SUSPECTED gas blast meant that one of London's busiest traffic routes was closed this morning as emergency services cleared up debris from the explosion.

The Harrow Road between Ladbroke Grove and Great Western Road was shut in both directions following a blast at a jewellery store last night, which gutted several shops and flats and injured three people. The road closure was expected to bring chaos to morning rush-hour traffic.

The explosion, thought to have occurred in the basement, blew out the front of the shop and windows in at least three flats, scattering debris over 100 yards from the scene. The three people rescued from the first-floor flats were treated in St Mary's Hospital, although none was seriously hurt.

Eyewitness Basim Raqi told how he gave first aid to two passers- by injured when they were thrown to the ground by the blast, at around 10pm. "I was thrown to the floor and I helped out people from the flats upstairs," he said.

Inspector Chris Wood, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "It would appear it was a gas explosion and the fire service evacuated residents from the upstairs flats."

It is thought likely that some flats will need to be demolished once the local authority surveyors have compiled initial reports. A Transco spokeswoman said investigators were on site but would have to wait until the buildings were declared safe before they could start looking for the cause of the blast.

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