Two men escaped serious injury today in a gas explosion which blew the end off a single storey building and buried them in rubble at the Talbot Stead Tube Works in Walsall.

"It seems a miracle they were not killed outright," a works official said.

Brickwork and part of the roof collapsed and masonry and heavy timbers were thrown more than 20ft.

Workmates dug the men out who were rushed to hospital where they were found to be not seriously hurt. They were sent home after treatment.