Brighton's Churchill Square shopping centre was evacuated and a 200m cordon thrown around it after an explosion in an empty unit. 

At about 1pm, staff were slowly being let back in as the cordon is lifted and buses were also returning to normal. By 2pm, the shopping centre had reopened to the public.

Two engines from Preston Circus Fire Station and one from Hove Fire Station were called to the shopping centre at 8.33am. Police also cordoned off areas of West Street.

The Argus has spoken to two workers who were feet away from the explosion.  Pat Matthews from Ecobuild said: "We were about 10ft away from it when it happened.

"It looks like the regulator on the gas bottle has gone and it just started shooting out flames.

Mr Matthews, who was working on the unit between the Vision Express and Apple stores with about 15 other men, heard a bang.

He added: "It was loud enough for us to run away, put it that way. The flames were about 5ft high and there was a load of black smoke coming from it so I rang the fire service.

"The unit is going to be a Spanish clothes shop, well it was anyway. We'd been working on it for about two or three weeks.

"We're just waiting for the all clear to get back to work, we've been told it could be a couple more hours.

"There haven't been any injuries as far as I know, but a few guys were still in there when we left so I don't know about them."

Wayne Thornton from East Sussex Construction, who was also working at Churchill Square at the time, said: "If those things [gas bottles] explode the shrapnel can fly up to 500m, so it's lucky there was nobody in there because they'd be gone."

At 12.30pm, firefighters were inspecting the building again to assess the situation. By 1.23pm, the canister was cooled and the "stop message" was given. 

Please note the @EastSussexFRS update that Churchill Square in #Brighton will not be fully open for at least 4 hours.

— Ch.Insp Simon Nelson (@CISimonNelson) October 15, 2013

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An East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "An acetylene cylinder had caught alight in a storage area where some building work was being carried out.

"Firefighters successfully cooled the acetylene cylinder, which has now been moved to a different location.

"The stop message was received at 1.23pm.

"Retailers are now being permitted into designated areas of the Churchill Square Shopping Centre."

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Police are liaising with the fire and rescue service team and have cordoned off Churchill Square shopping centre."

A spokeswoman for Churchill Square said: "The fire brigade are investigating a  fire at Churchill Square Shopping Centre.

"As a precaution the shopping centre has been evacuated and the area has  been cordoned off.  The shopping centre and car parks will remain closed until further notice.

"The police will be making a statement shortly and we will advise you of any further developments once we have more information."

She added she will be making a second statement later today. 

The shopping centre and car parks will remain closed until further notice (2/2)

— Churchill Square (@ChurchillSquare) October 15, 2013

Buses have been diverted along the seafront and Holland Road westbound and Montpelier Road and Imperial Arcade eastbound while the incident continues. For full details of diversions, click here. 

Staff from affected businesses were evacuated to the Grand Hotel. Workers are being given coffee and have been provided with rooms. Businesses closed include

  • All of Churchill Square
  • Kings Road as far as the Costa Coffee shop next to the Odeon
  • North Street as far as Waterstones
  • Some businesses on the western side of West Street 

Caroline Stephens, who works in the media centre in Middle Street, was told not to leave the office.

She said: “I just saw lots of fire engines and police cars and a colleague of mine who was walking down the Western Road area told me there was a big cordon in place.

“She told me that police had said we’re not to leave the office, so I guess I’ll be staying here for a while.”

Buses and traffic continue to travel on North Street but there are no bus services from Churchill Square itself in either direction. 

If you've been affected by the fire, email gareth.davies@theargus.co.uk or call 01273 544547.

More to follow.

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