A SUPERMARKET has been given the all clear to re-open after an explosion left eight people injured and forced staff to evacuate around 1,000 shoppers.

A ruptured gas pipe caused a loud bang at the Tesco Extra at the Ellesmere Centre in Bolton Road, Walkden, at 3pm on Sunday. The pipe, which supplied carbon dioxide to a refrigeration unit in the store, is now being inspected to try find out what caused the fault. All the other pipes in the store have now been checked and declared safe, a Tesco spokesman said.

Eight people sustained injuries and were treated at the scene mainly for hearing problems and minor injuries, caused as people rushed for the exit in the shopping centre.

Those injured included a 76-year-old man and a pregnant woman. Five people were taken to hospital as a precaution.

A Tesco spokesman said: “We believe everyone has now been discharged from hospital. The part of the store affected still needs work doing on it but the rest of the store is open.”