A FIREBALL exploded out of the ground in the middle of a Nelson street this morning cutting power to 800 homes.

A number of agencies were scrambled to the junction of Rakes House Road and Regent Street at around 3am after reports of a loud explosion.

After initial fears that a gas pipe had ruptured, it emerged that a fire at an underground junction had blown an electricity main, causing the fireball to come up out of the road, cracking the pavement and scorching a hedgerow.

It is thought a worn cable was to blame for the incident.

Jean Maw, 46, who lives opposite where the explosion happened, said: “I thought it was a bomb at first.

“I was in bed and it woke me up. There were loads of police cars and fire engines around it and the street was coroned off.”

Another eye witness, who did not want to be named, said: “I slept through it but my partner said it shook the house.

“When we went outside there were 12 foot high flames. I ended staying up as there was so much going on outside.”

Steven Savage, 17, who also lives near the site of the exp-losion, said: “I heard the bang and then looked out and saw the flames.”

Nelson fire crew manager Steven Gregory explained: “Someone from the ambulance service was passing and saw the fire.

"We were called to reports of a fireball coming out of the ground and that a gas main was on fire.

"Police were about to start evacuating the streets, but we were able to establish it was not a gas leak.

“People were coming out on to the street to let us know they had heard a loud explosion.

"We ended up keeping people inside their properties.”

Police, fire and the ambulance service attended the scene, along with the electricity board, gas and utility firms.

Electricity North West said: “There was a fault on a joint which connects to underground high voltage cables.”

All supplies were restored by 4.30am.