ROAD closures remain in place after a suspected gas explosion in New Ferry on Saturday night that flattened buildings and left 34 people in hospital.

Boundary Road is shut both ways between New Chester Road and Circular Drive.

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The B5136 Bebington Road is closed both ways between Windsor Close and New Ferry Road, and Circular Drive both ways at Boundary Road.

Police have confirmed that an investigation is underway.

National Grid said it had investigated "several reports" of gas smell before the explosion.

A spokesman said it was "too early to speculate" on the cause.

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It has emerged that children were in a dance studio just an hour before it was destroyed.

Witnesses told of their shock that they were able to walk away alive after several buildings collapsed in New Ferry, at about 9.15pm on Saturday.

Thirty-four people were injured, two seriously, in the blast which left debris scattered along the street and forced the evacuation of people from the surrounding area to a nearby church.

The two seriously injured people are being cared for at Aintree Hospital.

One vicitm is understood to be in a "critical" condition.

The explosion was heard across the region including in Liverpool and reportedly as far away as North Wales. 

Restaurant diners told how they tried to help casualties in the aftermath of the explosion.

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Helen Hudson said she had been in nearby Chinese restaurant Lan’s House with husband Steve and friends when the blast blew the front of the building in.

She said: “There was a man underneath a table who my husband helped to get out. Another woman had a bad injury to her cheekbone.

“It was so frightening, we thought it was a terrorist attack. There was blood everywhere and dust everywhere. Our ears are still ringing now.

“We didn’t know if there would be another explosion so we thought we had to get out and we climbed through the front of the restaurant.

“The men were all helping the women get out and there were women with prams trying to get babies out. I can’t believe we walked away alive.”

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Leanne Stewart, who lives near the site of the explosion, was in a pub and ran home to make sure her children, aged seven and three, were safe.

She said: “I was in the pub when I heard the bang and and I came running out because I knew I had to get the kids out. I just ran in and got them.

She added: “I think the front of the house is all gone now, I didn’t look when I ran in to get the kids and we don’t know when we’ll be allowed back.”

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Chairman of New Ferry Residents’ Association Mark Craig said a row of four shops with a dance studio above had collapsed.

He said: “Just an hour before, there were children in the studio.”

He added: “The community is in shock but you can see the community spirit and everyone is pulling together.”

Around 20 people have been evacuated from houses in the surrounding area and moved to a nearby church.

Emergency services said some may not be able to return home for several days.

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The cause of the explosion has not yet been established and is under investigation.

“We are checking our local gas mains network and so far there has been no indication of any faults on it,” a National Grid spokesman said.

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The spokesman continued: "The cause of this explosion is still under investigation and it is too early to speculate on what may have caused it.

“National Grid Gas Distribution Emergency Engineers were called at 9.15pm on Saturday, March 25, to a report of an explosion in Boundary Road.

“We...are working with the emergency services and local authority to make the scene safe and to identify what caused the incident.

“The gas supply to the main property involved has been isolated.

"We are checking our local gas mains network and so far there has been no indication of any faults on it.

“We were called to a report of a smell in Bebington Road on Friday evening, March 24, which we investigated and no trace of gas was found.

“We also received several other reports of a smell from across the wider area and our emergency engineers investigated all these reports and found no indication of a gas leak.

“There are no indications that any of these reports were connected to yesterday’s explosion.

“Our thoughts are with the injured and we wish them prompt recovery.”

If people think they can smell gas they should call 0800 111 999.

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Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Holland said: “This has obviously come as a massive shock to the community of New Ferry and our thoughts go out to those people who were injured during the explosion and the people who continue to be affected by it.

“I want to give my reassurances that Merseyside Police is committed to establishing what caused the explosion and are working closely with our partners at National Grid and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service as part of the investigation.

“Work is also ongoing with our colleagues at Wirral council to ensure that the area around the explosion site is made safe as soon as possible and that roads are reopened and people are able to return to their homes or collect their belongings as a priority."

Anyone who has any information or requires help or assistance in relation to the explosion is asked to contact 101.

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