Oldham explosion: Residents returning home

Homeowners living near the scene of an explosion which killed a two-year-old boy in Greater Manchester have been returning to their homes.

Some 175 homes and businesses were evacuated after the suspected gas blast in Buckley Street, Shaw, on Tuesday

Nearly 40 homes in nearby Oak Street have been reoccupied and as well as the whole of Gordon Street.

Jamie Heaton died in the explosion. A 27-year-old man is still seriously injured in hospital.

A local man, who inspected a boiler in the house which exploded, was freed on police bail on Thursday following his arrest on suspicion of manslaughter.

Greater Manchester Police said the man was held in London but his arrest was "only one line of inquiry".

Janet Winterbourne, who has returned home after spending two days staying with relatives, said: "I'm just glad to be back, you miss your creature comforts really.

"Everything is where it should be, we've got gas on and electric but we've no water," she said.

"There are cracks in the bedroom ceiling but the roof is all right."

About a dozen businesses were shut out of their premises following the blast.

Lee Hewitt, owner of the motorcycle repair shop Bikes and Beyond, which was inside the police safety cordon in Milnrow Street, reopened on Thursday afternoon.

"The glass is damaged in the front of the window, we're basically back in action but with certain restrictions with police signing things in and out," he said.