Fire spreads to flats in Shrewsbury
Firefighters were called to tackle a fire which spread to flats in Shrewsbury this afternoon.
Crews were called out just after 5pm to reports of a fire in the open underneath flats in New Park Road.
Exploding aerosol cans which caught light in a garden fire caused windows of neighbouring homes to shake.
The fire started in the small front garden of the flat in New Park Road in Castlefields, Shrewsbury.
One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, described how he had heard loud bangs as the aerosol cans exploded in the heat after the fire broke out.
He said: "The fire was in a mattress in the garden but there were some old cans there.
"There was quite a big explosion and the windows went 'whoomph'.
"There was smoke in our house but we were told not to open the windows because of the risk of explosions.
"My four-year-old son was quite upset and we had to take him round to a friend's house.
"It's not the first time there's been a fire there. A few months ago there was a fire in a bin in the garden."
Two fire engines were sent from Shrewsbury fire station and the crews wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel jet to put out the blaze.
Nobody was in the house at the time of the fire at no one was injured.
Police also attended. Anyone with information about the cause of the fire is asked to call West Mercia Police on 101.
