A MAN has died in an explosion in a County Durham market place.
The man was believed to have been in a Transit van containing welding equipment that blew-up in Wolsingham, near Crook.
Durham Police, who have attended the scene with fire and ambulance crews described the explosion as "a major incident".
A police cordon has been set up and nearby residents have been evacuated.
No-one else is believed to have been injured.
The explosion happened outside a newsagents shop in the town's market place at around 7am.
An eyewitness said: "A truck carrying gas cylinders travelling east exploded as it passed the Spar Shop blowing windows out of the said shop, the Baptist Chapel and neighbouring houses and businesses.
"George White estate agent took the brunt of the blast as a large piece of debris was blown into the shop.
"The Paper Shop also had the windows blown out as newspapers were prepared."
A Durham Police spokesman said: "We received a number of reports regarding an incident in the market place of Wolsingham."
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