Shaw explosion: man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter

Scene of Shaw gas explosion

A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the death of a toddler in an explosion in Shaw.

Jamie Heaton, two, died in the blast on Tuesday when he was watching television at his home in Buckley Street, Shaw.

His neighbour Andrew Partington, 27, suffered severe burns in the suspected gas explosion.

A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesman said: "A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of a two-year-old boy in an explosion in Oldham."

Earlier, the force said it was waiting to question Mr Partington and that officers had "significant questions" to put to him.

Police are at his bedside at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester waiting to be given the go-ahead by doctors to question him. They said he remained in a serious but stable condition.

Steve Heywood, Assistant Chief Constable of GMP, earlier told a press conference: "We have had some information to suggest it may not be accidental so we are treating it as a suspicious death and therefore a homicide investigation is undertaken."