07 Mar 2012
Gas which leaked into nearby sewers after a school blaze near Glasgow sent a drain cover flying 30 feet into the air, firefighters said.
St Mary’s Primary in the town of Larkhall was badly damaged in the fire which broke out in the early hours of the morning.
A section of the school fell down but firefighters from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue managed to save an area which has listed status.
Over 35 officers from stations at Motherwell, Hamilton and Bellshill spent five hours tackling the blaze and an investigation into the cause – by both the fire service and Strathclyde Police – is now underway.
They will look into how gas leaking from the school got into nearby drains, causing the explosion. The council’s building control department is also investigating the incident at the school in Raploch Street.
Copyright Press Association 2012