Update: Explosion in Shaw

Shaw Explosion

Evacuated residents are being helped to return to their homes, following an explosion which claimed the life of a young boy on Tuesday.

A cordon is expected to remain at the scene for several more days as detectives continue to investigate the cause of the blast.

However, this is gradually being reduced as properties are assessed by structural engineers to ensure they are safe before residents are allowed to return.

Oldham Council has started a staggered process of allowing residents back into some of the lesser damaged properties to recover personal possessions.

At about 11.15am on Tuesday 26 June 2012, officers were on patrol in the Shaw area when they heard a loud explosion. The body of two-year-old Jamie Heaton was found inside one of the houses.

A 32-year-old man remains in police custody for questioning after being arrested on suspicion of manslaughter last night.

Another man, aged 27, was taken to hospital for treatment to burn injuries and he remains in a serious but stable condition.

A thorough search and rescue operation was led by GMFRS following the incident and no one else was significantly hurt following the incident.

Several properties have suffered significant damage, including numbers 7, 9 and 11, which are all but demolished.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood, said: "Our thoughts and support remain with the family of two-year-old Jamie Heaton, who have been left devastated following the tragic loss of their little boy in the explosion on Tuesday.

"We are continuing to work very closely with the Council, Fire Service and other agencies to support the dozens of residents evacuated from their houses after the blast. We are eager to get these people back home as soon as possible, but this can only be done once homes have been fully assessed and we are sure it is safe for them to go back.

"We have started a staggered process of allowing residents back into some of the lesser damaged homes to recover personal possessions.

"If you are one of the residents affected and you haven't yet been spoken to about this, then please help us accommodate this process by speaking to officers at the mobile police station at Asda, or contact Oldham Council on 0161 770 7770.

"We are continuing to question a man arrested in connection with this incident. I am asking for people not to speculate on what they think may have happened here, but to allow us to carry out our investigation to discover the full facts.

"We are continuing to receive a lot of information from the public and I want to thank them for that. It is also heartening to see the way people in this area, from residents to schools to businesses, have rallied round to help support those affected by this tragic incident in any way they can.

"If anyone has any information at all that may help the investigation and has not yet spoken to police, please do so."

Anyone with information can call police on 0161 856 8959, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.