A FAULTY aerosol can caused an explosion at a Chinese nail bar, the police and fire service have revealed.

Staff at TA Nails in Lee Lane, Horwich, reported hearing the hissing can before it exploded and blew out the shop's front window.

Emergency services were forced to close the road on Tuesday and evacuate other local businesses after initially suspecting the cause to be a gas leak.

A fire service spokesman said the owners of the nail bar — which had not even opened after recently taking over the Allied Carpets store — heard the noise and were investigating its origin when the aerosol can exploded.

All four people inside escaped unharmed and were treated for shock at the scene.

Among the first people to help was Gill Charleston, who owns a dance studio down the road from TA Nails.

She said: "We just heard a big explosion and the glass shattering and a woman screaming. I assumed it was a car crash.

"I just ran out and saw the front of the shop in the road.

"Children from Rivington and Blackrod were there screaming, it must have been terrifying for them to see."

The explosion had caused one large window next to the door to be blown one and one of the four small windows above door to be blown out.

The brick panel under the window was dislodged, but no other structural damage was evident.

Bolton Council returned to the building yesterday to ensure it was safe.

Mrs Charleston added: "It is so lucky that nobody was injured, either shoppers going to Sainsbury's or the kids coming out of school."