Car blown up in firework attack

Bomb squad officers carried out a search of the area

A car has been destroyed in an explosion involving an industrial-sized firework in Liverpool.

The blast took place under a bridge close to Tuebrook police station in West Derby Road and blew out windows in nearby buildings.

Merseyside Police said nobody was injured in the incident, which took place just after 2230 BST on Thursday.

There were unconfirmed reports that two men seen running away from the car shortly before it exploded.

Following the explosion there was little left of the red Volvo 440.

One resident said: "We were just sitting in the house watching the television when there was a really loud bang and the whole house shook."

Another said her immediate thought was that a gas leak had caused a fire and explosion at a house nearby.

Structural engineers checked the bridge before allowing a freight train to cross it and the area was searched by bomb squad officers.

Detectives said on Friday that currently there appeared to be no motive for the incident and appealed for witnesses.