Woman with serious burns after 'gas explosion' in Staffordshire

A woman is in hospital with serious burns after an explosion destroyed a holiday cottage in Alton, Staffordshire.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service says crews from Longton and Hanley were sent to an address on Bradley Lane, Threapwood, shortly after 12.40pm Friday, following reports of a gas explosion.

Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service also went to the scene and an air ambulance took the woman, who is in her 50s, to hospital.

Firefighters used hose reel jets to extinguish the fire, which was put out around 1.30pm.

In a statement, a spokesperson from West Midlands Ambulance Service told Forth 1 News:

"We were called to reports of an explosion at a log cabin in Bradley in the Moors near Alton in Staffordshire at 12.40pm today.

"An ambulance, two paramedic officers, The Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford and a Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care car were sent to the scene. On arrival, crews found three properties, one of which had been completely destroyed by the explosion.

"A middle aged woman was assessed and treated at the scene by ambulance staff and the doctor and critical care paramedics from the air ambulance.

"After being treated at the scene, she was airlifted to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further treatment. The woman was the only casualty."

Emergency services say they carried out a search in the area to make sure everyone was accounted for in the neighbouring properties.

Gas engineers came out and isolated the supply to make sure the area was left safe.

An investigation into what caused the explosion is ongoing.

Hear all the latest news from across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk on Forth 1. Listen on FM, via the Rayo app, on DAB or on your smart speaker.