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The Times

Wednesday 28 December 1949

Explosion at Gas Works

Supplies Cut Off From Large Area

Some 40,0000 people in the area served by the Brierfield gasworks, near Burnley, Lancashire, have been without gas supplies since the afternoon of Christmas Day, when a severe explosion occurred at the works.
The explosion injured one man slightly. Others on duty had just moved to another part pf the works. Windows were blwon out of shops in the main road 200 yards away. A fire which broke out after the explosion was brought under control quickly and four large gasholders were sealed off. Families in the area were evacuated for some hours.
Police officers toured the district with loud-speaker vans instructing residents in Nelson, Brierfield, Barrowford, Wheatley Lane, Fence, and other areas not to use gas, for should the level in the gasholders fall too low air would enter the system with, possibly disastrous results. A great number of houses in the district affected by the ban are illuminated only by gas, so that the residents were compelled to use candles.
It will probably take a few days before supplies of gas are available. Gas engineers and other workers were called in over the holiday and worked day and night to clear the débris and arrange for temporary supplies to be connected from Colne and Burnley.

_________________
Mel

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The Times

Thursday 29 December 1949

Cotton Mills Affected By Gas Cut

Some cotton operatives in the Brierfield and Nelson districts of Lancashire, which have been without gas since the Christmas Day explosion at the Brierfield gasworks, were told on resumption after the holiday yesterday that they would have to work in daylight hours only. There is electric lighting in most mills, but one of them is lit by gas.
The North West Gas Board announced last night that it is hoped to be able to restore a supply of gas from the Brierfield gasworks by the beginning of next week. The announcement added that labour squads working day and night under the direction of engineers have made good progress in the clearance of the wrecked building.

_________________
Mel

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The Times

Monday 2 January 1950

Gas Supply Restored

The North West Gas Board announced last night that gas supplies would be fully restored by 8a.m. to-day in districts served by the Nelson undertaking, where ocnsumers have had no supply since Christmas Day, when an explosion demolished part of the Brierfield gasworks. The announcement added that it would be unsafe to use gas before this hour.

_________________
Mel

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No gas on Christmas Day. Ho-ly. All those Chrostmas dinners half-cooked. Good job people heated their homes with open fires in those days.

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Maureen
If you can't fight, wear a big 'at