Tar barrel explosion aerosol link

Advertisement

Police are probing the explosion's cause. Footage from YouTube

A police investigation is under way after two men suffered serious burns when a barrel of burning tar exploded during a traditional Devon event.

Inquiries are taking place to establish whether the explosion at the Flaming Tar Barrels event at Ottery St Mary was caused by an aerosol can in a barrel.

One man suffered serious facial burns and another received burns to his hand in the explosion last Thursday.

Both were treated at Bristol's Frenchay Hospital's burns unit and released.

An estimated 20,000 people were in the town for the event on 5 November. About 10 other people were injured in the explosion.

Facebook group

Eyewitness Simon Harland said: "We saw the barrel going up the hill, it turned round, came down and this fireball came out of the side of it.

"There was lots of screaming, sparks and flames."

Getting insurance has been a problem for the event and organisers said they feared the explosion would make it harder.

Graham Rowland, of the town's carnival committee, said: "It's very difficult to say what we're going to do next year without this because of the revenue that it brings into the town.

The area was obviously very busy with spectators throughout the night and police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident Devon & Cornwall Police

"Ottery is a dying town. Without it, it will be dead."

A group has been set up on internet social networking site Facebook calling for the "Tar Barrel aerosol thrower to be brought to justice".

More than 2,500 people have joined the group and some have even posted photos of the explosion on the website.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Officers believe other spectators may have also suffered minor burns and are keen for them to come forward and speak to the police.

"It is thought some of those injured are not from the local area and travelled down from Avon & Somerset and from further afield.

"The area was obviously very busy with spectators throughout the night and police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident."

Dating back to the 17th Century, the taking of flaming tar barrels through the streets of Ottery St Mary is thought to originate from a pagan ritual of exorcising evil spirits from the town.

Barrels are soaked in tar and lit before being carried in turn.

The event raises thousands of pounds for charity and attracts people from around the world.