Oldham Gas Explosion Suspect Bailed

29 June 2012, 11:56 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A man arrested after the Oldham explosion has been bailed by police.

The 32 year old from the Shaw area was held in London and taken to Manchester for questioning in connection with Tuesday's massive explosion.

Police reckon the suspect may have done some boiler maintenance work at one of the houses in Buckley Street, Oldham.

Two year old Jamie Heaton was killed and neighbour Andrew Partington, 27, suffered serious burns as the blast flattened their homes and damaged scores of other houses.

Jamie was killed while watching TV in his home but his mother survived after stepping out to hang out washing in the yard.

Police say they are looking into reports of a row between the injured man and his partner, mother-of-five Tanya Williamson, who left the family home with her children before the blast.

Senior police stressed that the arrest was only one line of inquiry.

Steve Heywood, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, said officers still have “significant questions” for Mr Partington, who remains unconscious and sedated in Wythenshawe Hospital.

He confirmed that recently Mr Partington was arrested and given a conditional discharge in court for common assault following a domestic incident at his home.

Meanwhile, Sean Booth, area manager for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said such is the structural damage to some houses that they will have to be demolished, although he could not yet say how many.