Residents evacuated after blast

Around 40 residents were evacuated from a Black Country street after a propane cylinder exploded at a terraced house.

The fire started when a child playing at the townhouse, in Crusader Close, Oldbury, knocked over the cylinder which then struck a heater in the front porch last night.

A neighbour raised the alarm after spotting the incident at the property which was occupied by a family of seven at about 8.30pm.

Families were asked to leave their homes because of fears that further gas cylinders may have been involved in the incident.

Watch commander Andy Marples, of Smethwick fire, said the incident left wooden door frames and fittings at the front of the house damaged and the building heavily smoke logged. But no other properties were damaged.