UK police probe death of boy in gas blast

Police in Britain investigating the suspicious death of a child in a gas blast may be dealing with a murder inquiry.

Jamie Heaton, aged two, died when a massive explosion tore through his home and that of a neighbour on Buckley Street in the Shaw area of Oldham yesterday morning.

Neighbour Andrew Partington, 27, was airlifted to hospital with severe burns.

Police say they have “significant questions” for Mr Partington, who has officers waiting at his bedside for him to regain consciousness.

Sources confirmed a domestic argument involving the injured man took place in the hours before the blast, with his partner leaving their house with her five children.

Steve Heywood, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, told a press conference in Shaw: “We have had some information to suggest it may not be accidental so we are treating it as a suspicious death and therefore a homicide investigation is undertaken.”

The boy's father, named locally as Kenny Heaton, was not at home at the time of the blast, around 11.15am on Tuesday.

The massive explosion flattened number 11 Buckley Street, where Jamie lived, and number 9, where Mr Partington lived.

The two houses are separated by an alleyway.

It is understood Mr Partington had only moved into the property around six weeks ago.

According to locals the property occupied by Mr Partington was rented from landlord and local businessman Iltaf Hussain.

Surrounding properties were also devastated and structural engineers will have to check each house before residents can return.

Mr Heywood compared the scene to something like the IRA’s bombing of Manchester.

“This looks like there has been a bomb. The devastation is absolutely tremendous. Our thoughts go out to those families that have been displaced.”