Police investigate pub 'fireball'

Three people were taken to hospital with burns to their backs and legs

Police are appealing for witnesses after an explosion at a pub injured seven people in Derbyshire.

Three people were taken to hospital for treatment for burns following the explosion at the White Hart Hotel in Ashbourne on Saturday evening.

One man was arrested and released on bail and two other men were arrested but later released without charge.

Police said the fireball was caused by an aerosol being thrown on a fire and involved an "element of recklessness".

'Element of recklessness'

"We are satisfied that the aerosol can was discarded on the fire by someone but was not a deliberate attempt to cause an explosion and inflict the injuries caused," Insp Bryan Hall of Derbyshire Police said.

He said it highlights the dangers of using an aerosol can near flames.

There was "an element of recklessness involved" in the incident so investigations are continuing, he added.

The man released on bail will reappear in court in Buxton in two weeks time.

"Putting aerosol cans on an open fire can have dramatic and dangerous consequences which was the case in this tragic incident."

The aerosol can caused a 2m (6.5ft) high fireball.

Those who had been hurt had to be doused with cold water at a dental surgery opposite the pub in the town centre.