The centre of Whaley Bridge was closed to traffic yesterday (Monday, July 15) after an electricity substation exploded.
Described as a ‘loud bang’ by local resident and former Conservative MP Edwina Currie, the 9:50am blast left homes and businesses in the town without power for around three hours.
The substation, by the railway bridge on Buxton Road, is just yards away from Whaley Bridge Primary School.
“So glad it didn’t happen at 8.30am as kids and parents were heading to school nearby,” Currie tweeted.
Despite there being no electricity, lessons continued as normal at the school, with the head cook arranging sandwiches for lunchtime. Parents were advised to stay away until home time.
One eyewitness who works in a building next to the substation also recalls hearing ‘just a loud bang’. She and her colleagues at Kuranda Marine were evacuated and spent a couple of hours locked out.
“It was a bit of an inconvenience while the fire service assessed the situation, but we were soon back in.”
There were no reports of injuries or damage to any buildings.
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