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Boiler engineer questioned over Oldham gas blast death

Pat Hurst
Friday 29 June 2012 01:06 BST
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A man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over a gas blast which killed a two-year-old boy was released on bail last night.

The 32-year-old from the Shaw area of Oldham was held in London on Wednesday and was taken to Manchester today.

Police said they understood the suspect may have done some boiler maintenance work at one of the houses in Buckley Street, Oldham.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed he had been bailed until 9 August pending further inquiries.

Two-year-old Jamie Heaton was killed and neighbour Andrew Partington, 27, suffered serious burns as the blast flattened their homes and damaged scores of other houses.

Jamie was killed while watching TV but his mother miraculously survived after stepping out to hang out washing in the yard.

Reports suggest there was a problem with the boiler at Mr Partington's home in the days before the explosion.

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