Woman taken to hospital with serious burns after holiday cottage explodes near Alton Towers

A woman has been flown to hospital with serious burns after a gas explosion at a holiday cottage near Alton Towers.

Emergency services were scrambled to an address on Bradley Lane, Threapwood in Alton shortly after 12.40pm today (December 29).

A woman, in her 50s, suffered serious burns at the scene and was taken to hospital by air ambulance.

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The holiday cottage was destroyed in the explosion and an investigation into what caused it is ongoing. Emergency services remain at the scene.

In a statement, a spokesperson from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We have extinguished a fire at a holiday cottage in Alton this afternoon (29 December) following reports of a gas explosion.

“Crews from Longton and Hanley were sent to an address on Bradley Lane, Threapwood, shortly after 12.40pm. Our colleagues from Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service also went to the scene.

“Firefighters used hose reel jets to extinguish the fire, which was put out around 1.30pm. Emergency services carried out a search in the area to make sure everyone was accounted for in the neighbouring properties.

“A woman, in her 50s, suffered serious burns at the scene. She was taken to hospital by air ambulance.

“As a result of the explosion, the building was destroyed. 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 and emergency services will remain at the scene.”