Jacob Jarvis

The story

Families and pensioners who left their houses after a fatal gas explosion will not be able to return home until next summer.

Debris from the massive blast which was sparked by a cooker generator switch following a pipe leak remains strewn around Allington Drive, Birstall today.

The incident, on December 11, claimed the life of 79-year-old Janet Jasper when it ripped through her and husband John’s home.

Now only a few possessions and flowers in tribute to Mrs Jasper remain on the patch of land where the house was.

At least nine houses in Allington Drive have been abandoned since the explosion.

Click here to read the full story online. 

How I got the story

A massive blast in Birstall killed one lady, injured others and did unbelievable damage to homes.

The incident happened in December 2017 and a few weeks later I decided to return to the site and speak to those living nearby.

I found a gentleman emerging from his boarded up home and spoke to him. He explained to me how his family and many others would not be able to move back for six months.

I also knocked at all the other houses and spoke to other residents. I came back to the office and put this all together alongside a piece describing the destruction still left behind by the incident.

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