POLICE expect roads around the centre of Wolsingham, County Durham, to remain closed for at least a further 24 hours following yesterday's van explosion.

The centre of the village was sealed off and residents evacuated following the blast just before 7am in the market place.

The driver of the transit van, who died in the explosion, has not been formally identified by police.

However he has been named locally as Andrew Herd, 33, whose wife Jennifer is expecting their first child.

Mr Herd, from Wolsingham, was a welder and was on his way to work when the accident happened.

It is believed gas cylinders in the back of his van exploded.

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