Bridge Street 'explosion': Swindon shoppers evacuated

Bridge Street was evacuated by emergency services after a “small explosion” under the pavement, at around 11.30am on Tuesday, September 26, at the junction with Fleet Street.

Shoppers and employees were escorted as far back as Regent Street and the street remained closed off for over an hour, according to one British Heart Foundation employee who wished to remain anonymous.

He said: "We don't really know what happened. We were asked to evacuate… we were told to go all the way to the end of the street beyond Vodafone.

“We were able to come back into the shop at around 1pm, so it was quite a while."

The scene at Bridge Street earlier today (Image: Newsquest)While most shops have since reopened, a Londis store remained cordoned off and shut while further work was carried out.

Workers at the scene explained the explosion was due to a fault with an underground cable.

One added: "Usually if it's tarmac it tends to keep the fault in, but these bricks are just so loose, there was no chance".

The scene was cordoned off by fire crews who confirmed a “small explosion” took place under the pavement.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service added firefighters were working with the electricity and gas board to resolve the issue.