A 56-YEAR-old businessman and a gas company have been charged in connection with the explosion that devastated New Ferry last year.

Homes and businesses were destroyed by the blast that ripped through the town just after 9pm on Saturday, March 25.

Many buildings, including premises owned by 'Complete Works' dance studio and a funeral directors, collapsed.

The force of the blast was felt as far as Wallasey and Heswall.

More than 30 people, were injured were taken to Arrowe Park Hospital, Countess of Chester Hospital and Aintree Hospital.

Among them was 21-year-old Lewis Jones, who sustained serious head injuries.

Merseyside Police confirmed this evening that Pascal Blasio, of Gillingham in Kent had been charged with maliciously and unlawfully causing, with an explosive substance, an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property on March 25.

Mr Blasio is the owner and director of Homes in Style furniture shop which is located at the site of the explosion.

He has been released on conditional bail and will appear at Wirral magistrates court on Wednesday April 4.

Contract Natural Gas Limited, an independent gas supplier which provides gas exclusively to business customers, has also been charged with an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for failing to discharge general health / safety duty to a person other than an employee.

The charges relating to Contract Natural Gas are that between August 22, 2012 and March 25 last year the company failed to conduct its undertaking to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of persons not in its employment, including Lewis Jones, by failing to ensure that the redundant live gas service to 43 Bebington Road was disconnected after removing the meter.

Police confirmed that no action will be taken against a 63 year-old man from the Flintshire area arrested in connection with the incident.

A 65-year-old man from Cheshire was notified in July 2017 that he was no longer under police investigation.

Meanwhile, work is now well underway to demolish the most severely affected buildings.

The council has also spent more than £300,000 of its reserves in a bid to help those residents and businesses affected.

A regeneration plan has been drawn up the authority in a bid to rebuild the town.

Minutes after the explosion on March 25, a passerby told the Globe: "We were walking to a pub nearby and there was a definite smell of strong gas around that area this was about 20 minutes before the explosion."

Another said: "I saw one man injured, I think a few people were injured.

"The building is gone, my door is damaged and broken. It's really scary, it was a big explosion but I didn't see any fire."

One witness said: "I was sitting in the restaurant opposite Bebington station when there was a huge explosion which rocked the place.

Local resident Katie O’Hanlon, whose family had to be evacuated from their property, explained how a quiet night at home suddenly turned into a terrifying ordeal.

She said: "We were sitting watching TV and there was a big bang and our windows came through, upstairs and downstairs.

"Initially we thought a bus had come through.

"Our children are okay and have gone to their grandparents.

"I was just telling the boys to turn off the telly when it happened.

"My husband saw somebody lying on the ground over the road, but fortunately they were able to get up."

Welcoming news of today's charges, Wirral South MP Alison McGovern told the Globe tonight: "This is the first step on the long road ahead in achieving justice for the damage the New Ferry explosion caused.

"Many in my community will have questions about what this means for possible redress, and I have asked the police to make sure they are available to speak to residents at the first opportunity.

"I want to thank all at Merseyside Police for their work on what has been a substantial process and recognise that the last ten months have taken a great effort, but would urge that they and the CPS take every precaution to make sure effective steps are taken to secure justice for all affected.

"I'd also take this opportunity to remind the Conservative Government that the people of New Ferry are still here, despite the lack of support to date, and would request that they take every action to assist Wirral Borough Council in funding the emergency costs that have been born by Wirral Council Tax payers over the period since, and help us to rebuild our town so we can grow back to the thriving town centre Bebington Road once was".