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Driver dies in welding van blast Driver dies in welding van blast
(about 4 hours later)
A driver was killed when a van carrying welding equipment exploded in a County Durham market town.A driver was killed when a van carrying welding equipment exploded in a County Durham market town.
Windows in shops and homes were left shattered and wreckage was strewn across the centre of Wolsingham, near Bishop Auckland.Windows in shops and homes were left shattered and wreckage was strewn across the centre of Wolsingham, near Bishop Auckland.
Homes near the scene were evacuated after the blast, which happened at 0700 BST on Saturday. The 33-year-old local man, who works as a welder near Durham, was on his way to work when oxy-acetylene cylinders in his van exploded.
It is not yet known what caused the oxy-acetylene cylinders to explode when the driver stopped his van near shops. Homes near the scene were evacuated after the incident on Saturday morning.
It is not yet known what caused the blast but Durham Police said there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.
The victim, who is married, had stopped at shops shortly beforehand, but it is believed the van was moving when it exploded.
I ran to check on my son, who sleeps at the front of the house. He wasn't injured, but he was completely showered with glass Resident Catherine DipperI ran to check on my son, who sleeps at the front of the house. He wasn't injured, but he was completely showered with glass Resident Catherine Dipper
A Durham Police spokesman said: "We can confirm the van driver died in the incident. Speaking on Saturday afternoon, a police spokesman said: "The centre of the town will remain cordoned off overnight and into Sunday.
"The entire market place area has been sealed off for safety reasons." "One of the cylinders is still in the market place and has to be cooled down for no less than 24 hours."
No details of the victim were being released, he added. It is likely to be some time before the victim is formally identified, he added.
One resident said the van was obliterated in the explosion, which sounded "like a bomb going off".One resident said the van was obliterated in the explosion, which sounded "like a bomb going off".
Catherine Dipper, whose house was damaged by the blast, said: "I was woken by a big explosion and I knew it wasn't a firework or a car backfiring.Catherine Dipper, whose house was damaged by the blast, said: "I was woken by a big explosion and I knew it wasn't a firework or a car backfiring.
"I went to investigate and found every single window at the front of the house had been blown in."I went to investigate and found every single window at the front of the house had been blown in.
In pictures: Wolsingham blastIn pictures: Wolsingham blast
"I ran to check on my son, who sleeps at the front of the house. He wasn't injured, but he was completely showered with glass."I ran to check on my son, who sleeps at the front of the house. He wasn't injured, but he was completely showered with glass.
"Then I went to the front door and saw bits of the van everywhere.""Then I went to the front door and saw bits of the van everywhere."
Ms Dipper was evacuated from her home and could face a wait of 48 hours before being allowed back, she said.Ms Dipper was evacuated from her home and could face a wait of 48 hours before being allowed back, she said.
It is not yet known if buildings in the immediate area of the explosion have suffered structural damage.It is not yet known if buildings in the immediate area of the explosion have suffered structural damage.
A spokesman for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said crews could be at the scene throughout the day until the cylinders had cooled down. No-one else was hurt in the explosion, on the A689 - the main road which runs through Wolsingham.
He said: "We believe there are cylinders involved and we need to be very careful. They can take up to 24 hours to cool and that's our priority at the moment." Durham Police has set up two public help lines containing road closure details and information about the clean-up operation.
No-one else is thought to have been hurt in the explosion, on the A689 - the main road which runs through Wolsingham. The numbers are 01325 742549 and 742565.
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