Norris Green rocked by explosion

Jun 21 2008 By Ben Rossington

NORRIS Green was shaken today (Saturday) by an underground explosion.

At around 3pm, houses shook and a massive bang could be heard when a manhole was fired high into the air on Muirhead Avenue.

The cause of the explosion is believed to be an electrical junction box that had caught fire.
Pressure built up underground before forcing its way out through the manhole.

Police sealed off a 500-yard stretch of the dual carriageway to allow firefighters in to work.

Surrounding homes had their power knocked out. Engineers from United Utilities were on the scene quickly.

Residents have told how they thought a bomb had gone off.

One said: “I was just in the shop when everything started shaking and then there was a massive explosion.

“It was just like a bomb or an earthquake. When everything settled, there was an eerie silence.

People were poking their heads out to have a look but no-one was really sure whether it was safe to go out or not.

“You couldn’t really see anything for the smoke.”