Construction staff hurt in police station blast

Five people were been taken to hospital - one with serious burns - after an explosion and fire during refurbishment work at Croydon Police Station.

The Metropolitan Police said that at least some of the injured were construction workers carrying out building work at the premises.

It said the fire and explosion occured at around 11.30am on Tuesday in the basement of the police station, where a firing range had been decommissioned for refurbishment.

A spokeswoman for Vinci Construction, which is carrying out the work, said the company was “gravely concerned” about the welfare and safety of the workers and others affected by the incident.

“We are working with the HSE in their ongoing investigation to understand the cause of the explosion,” she said.

The Metropolitan Police said last night that at least two of the injured remained in hospital, one of them in a serious condition.

The London Ambulance Service said the most badly-injured victim had been flown to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, suffering from serious burns.

Two other victims were suffering from lesser burns, while a further two needed treatment for smoke inhalation.

Police said no firearms or live ammunition were on site at the time of the explosion.

Vinci added that it believed only one of the people taken to hospital following the blast worked for the company.