Gas explosion in Fortuneswell

Residents tolds of their shock after the explosion in Fortuneswell on Friday morning.

Police, firefighters and paramedics were alerted to a property at the top of Fortuneswell opposite the Britannia Inn at around 10.30am.

The windows of the property appeared to have been blown out and glass was strewn across the road and pavement.

A cordon was set up around the area and building control was requested after fire crews deemed the house unsafe. 

Picture: FINNBARR WEBSTER

Wayne Day, who lives near the house, said: "There was a very loud explosion. I assumed it was a major crash.

"I looked out my window and saw tiles were coming off the roof, then the window blew out.

"I joined a few others who ran round to help. A man was in there and he was very shocked and stunned. They smashed the window and dragged him out to safety."

A man was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to Dorset County Hospital, but his condition is not thought to be serious. There were no other reported injuries.

Sheila Pirate, landlady of the nearby Britannia Inn, said: "We heard the explosion and we thought it was two lorries smashing together it was so loud.

"The whole window had come out and the road was full of glass, brick and tiles. It was lucky no one was walking there at the time. 

"Some people from the pub went to help, they smashed the bottom window out and got a man out. There was a paramedic coming down the road with his family who happened to have his kit in his boot, so he came to help too."
 

Watch a video of firefighters at the scene

Carol and Keith Hardcastle live directly the opposite the house.

Mrs Hardcastle said: "We felt a huge shake.

"We looked out and saw people running and trying to break the glass out the window. We saw a red cannister was on our side of the road, and realised it had blown out of the house and hit our wall."

Mr Hardcastle said: "Our walls are two feet thick. We thought a lorry had hit the wall - it takes a lot to make our house shake."

Picture: FINNBARR WEBSTER

Fire crews from Weymouth and Portland isolated the gas, ventilated the building and checked adjacent properties. A senior firefighter at the scene said the fire service will work with police to investigate the cause of the explosion.

A team from SGN was also called to the scene to check for gas leaks. 

The A354 in Fortuneswell was closed temporarily while emergency services dealt with the incident, and there was heavy traffic from Verne Common Road to High Street.