A MARKET town left devastated by an explosion at the weekend took the first steps towards normality yesterday.

Shops reopened for the first time since the blast, which killed 33-year-old van driver Andy Herd in the early hours of Saturday, although it was still far from business as usual.

Dozens of businesses in the Market Place and Front Street, as well as the Baptist Church, remained boarded up, while a mark on the road caused by the incident was still visible.

However, following a clean-up by police, the fire brigade and Wear Valley District Council, shops only a few hundred yards from the scene were able to open to customers.

They included the Spar and The Paper Shop, the newsagent which father-to-be and local man Mr Herd visited only moments before canisters of acetylene and oxygen exploded in the back of his van.

The shop is run by Elaine and Keith Ridley, and its windows were blown out by flying debris.

However, the rest of the building was virtually unscathed, and after temporarily operating out of a nearby cottage in the immediate aftermath, was able to reopen yesterday.

Mrs Ridley, who is on Wolsingham Parish Council, said: "I suppose it has been nearly back to normal today, but it's been a bit subdued."

Her husband said: "The windows went out into the street, rather than come in, and that has now been cleared up. The police and council organised all that.

"We were evacuated after the explosion and told not to come back for 24 hours. Nobody could get supplies or anything because the road was closed off.

"We set up at the cottage, but we were just selling newspapers. People wanted to read them."

Main roads through the town were reopened on Monday, and traffic was going through as normal yesterday.

Engineers from the council carried out structural assessments on buildings to determine whether or not people could return, and chief executive Iain Phillips visited affected businesses.

Accompanied by district emergency planning officer John Docherty, he offered his help and support.

He said: "We are just making a few visits to see if there is any further action the council can take to help people with the outcome of Saturday."

Mr Phillips also thanked Julie Wilson, proprietor of Julie's Cafe, which was set up as an impromptu base for workers over the weekend.

A joint investigation by police and health and safety executives is continuing to determine the cause of the explosion, which occurred as Mr Herd was on his way to work.

To leave your tribute to Mr Herd online, go to www.the northernecho.co.uk