Support ongoing for residents affected by explosion

People forced to leave their homes after a fatal house explosion say they are worried it could be weeks before they can return home.

Bedford Borough Council said properties in Cleat Hill were evacuated on Saturday after a blast left one man dead and a woman in hospital in a critical condition.

On Monday, the church of St Mark's hosted a meeting between residents, the fire service, the council and the police to answer questions and provide the latest information.

Charles Royden, vicar and Liberal Democrats councillor, said: "People are feeling really fragile and upset. They want to know more."

He added: "This is a catastrophe that's happened here of monumental proportions - people having to be moved out of their homes, no possessions, no car, some of them haven't got any money, no clothes...think how awful that is."

Many residents have been relocated to nearby hotels and have not returned to their homes since Saturday afternoon.

Mr Royden said the church was open 24 hours a day and was offering practical support for residents which included kitchen facilities, toilets, wi-fi and computers.

Citizens Advice has also set up a space at St Mark's.

The vicar added: "We're just trying to provide some real support in the community and I've got some volunteers that are going to help do that.

"All of the facilities of the church have been made available and we'll do this as long as it takes."

Diana Johnson has been staying with friends since the incident.

She said: "There's a really good community spirit... Now we have a room at St Mark's where people can meet socially, just getting together and talking about it is good therapy."

She told the BBC that some of her neighbours left school uniforms and medication and cannot return home.

"The problem was the rapidity of which we had to leave home, thinking in a few moments what we had to take with us," she said.

"All of us are now realising there's things we desperately need from home."

Ms Johnson and her husband attended a meeting at St Mark's which left them worried it could be weeks before they could go home.

She added: "It's a bit like when Covid hit, you're suddenly in this unreal situation and you don't know what's going to happen. It's that unknown which is the biggest worry."

During the meeting, residents criticised the council and emergency services for not communicating with them sooner.

Det Ch Supt Zara Brown responded: "It was always our intention, as part of our strategy, to have a community meeting.

"But because of the situation we find ourselves in, in terms of the response phase, we've had an awful lot to consider in terms of that fast response."

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue assistant chief fire officer, Jason Tai, added: "We totally all accept communications need to be better from this point forward."

When asked about the meeting the next day, mayor Tom Wootton said: "A lot of people are very upset.

"We're doing our best trying to help people putting them into accommodation and hotels."

He advised residents to keep receipts and added the council "will do our best".

"People have died here - It's a really tragic situation," he said.

"We will be there for [the residents] for as long as it will take."

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