A number of road and footpaths closures remain in place in Bedford Borough, following the incident in Cleat Hill.
A cordon and the closures are in place for the safety of the public and to allow operations to take place.
Cleat Hill has been closed to traffic. Motorists are asked to take the signposted alternative routes.
And a number of footpaths and walkways are also closed. These are
- Footpath 25 from Oldways Road to Cleat Hill
- Footpath 58 Cleat Hill
- Footpath 26 behind the properties in Cleat Hill
- Footpath 52 Graze Hill towards Cleat Hill
- Bridleway 23 to the rear of Hamble Road to Cleat Hill
- The walkway from Rhineland Way to Cleat Hill
- The walkway from Douglas Road to Cleat Hill.
Two people are confirmed to have died following an explosion and subsequent fire that occurred on Saturday morning.
Bedfordshire Police, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are actively investigating the cause of the explosion.
50 households were evacuated following the incident, and they have all now had a chance to access their property, giving them the opportunity to collect their belongings whilst being safely escorted.
Other support offered to residents has included the creation of an Advice and Support Centre, the provision of temporary accommodation to 31 households, financial support, and a dedicated 24-hour emergency helpline. There is also the offer of quiet working space at Borough Hall from Monday-Friday, including free WiFi and access to free car parking.
A spokesperson for the Bedfordshire Local Resilience Forum said; “Our thoughts remain with everybody who has been affected by the tragic incident at Cleat Hill, and would like to thank everyone for their help and cooperation as we continue our investigation.”