INVESTIGATIONS are still continuing into the cause of two explosions which rocked Radcliffe on Sunday, November 7.

Stand Motors, in Stand Lane and Ringley Car Sales, in Ringley Road West, were blown apart within 20 minutes of each other.

It is believed powerful display fireworks were used in both attacks which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.

The first explosion occurred at 6.50pm when three incendiary devices were thrown through the windows of Stand Motors' sales headquarters. The subsequent blast destroyed windows and doors.

Twenty minutes later, Ringley Car Sales suffered a similar explosion. The force of the blast again blew out windows and doors. A number of cars were damaged in the blast explosion causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

One fireman at the scene of the explosion at Ringley Car Sales, sub-officer Russ Condon, said: "It was a massive explosion, the office was just obliterated. "Pieces of the explosive device shot through the garage hitting cars and blowing out the plate glass windows."

Ringley Car Sales owner Mr Stuart Finney said: "It was a complete shock to find out what had happened. It is clearly a huge explosion, I have no idea why this has happened."

A spokesman for Stand Motors, which also suffered thousands of pounds worth of damage, was equally baffled over a motive.

He said: "We were able to re-open on Tuesday, but the workshop is only semi-open because the sliding doors were so badly damaged."

Police say the arsonists had broken into the office before causing the explosion at the Stand Motor Company, owned by Ferguson Ford Used Car Sales.

The blast blew out windows and a fire was sparked as acetylene vapours from welding equipment caught fire.

A police spokesman said: "We are investigating both incidents which look at this stage to be linked. In both cases the blasts were very large and caused a considerable amount of damage."

He added: "There is no evidence to suggest that both businesses have been attacked as part of a vendetta. The reasons behind this incident are a complete mystery."

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