RESIDENTS and business owners in New Ferry have been allowed back to their properties for the first time since last month's explosion as the clear-up operation continues. 

New pictures reveal the extent of the devastation caused by the blast.

Wirral Council took control of the site last Thursday as the evidence-gathering stage of the multi-agency investigation on site finished.

A cordon has been reduced as blocks of buildings have been deemed safe enough to access, to work on or to move back in to.

This leaves only the most badly damaged properties around the edge of the explosion site still sealed off to the public.

The area has now been cleared of debris and the condition of the surrounding buildings has been assessed.

David Ball, Wirral's assistant director of environmental services and lead officer in the recovery phase in New Ferry, said: "Local people have been crucial in helping the clean-up operation run smoothly.

"We've had a lot of direct contact - the council and its partners have tried to keep people up to date and to give them an idea of what to expect next.

"The clean-up has seen a lot of work happen quickly, with lots of people on site.

"It's likely that as we move on to look at longer term plans for buildings, working with insurers and contractors, this level of activity will slow down.

"This could be frustrating for the local people affected but the Recovery Team will do everything possible to help, where we can.

"We will continue to work hard to get New Ferry open for business and to get local people back into their community."

Where safe to do so, residents, tenants and business owners have been allowed back in to their homes and business premises to get personal possessions or retrieve salvageable equipment.

The next step is to work with local people and their insurance companies as they come on site to make their own assessments of the buildings.

The council’s recovery team has been meeting regularly with affected people on a block by block basis, and more widely, through community meetings.

Weekly community meetings will continue for at least another month.

The next will take place at St Mark's Church Hall in New Ferry on Monday, April 24, at 5.30pm.

A special telephone number is available for anyone affected who needs extra support to help cope with the aftermath of the incident, to provide counselling or just someone to talk to.

Call 0151 649 1859 between 10am and 4pm. There is no charge for the support service which is provided by the NHS.

If anyone has any urgent needs out of hours they can call the council's emergency duty team on 0151 677 6557.