4 children and man seriously injured after Yorkshire truck explosion
Four children and a man have been left fighting for their lives and with life-changing injuries after a truck exploded outside a pub in Yorkshire.
Footage from the scene has shown the charred wreckage of a tipper truck, in which the five victims are reported to have been found with serious burns.
Emergency services raced to the incident following reports that a vehicle was on fire at the Hare and Hounds Inn, on Liley Lane in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, at around 2.15pm on Sunday.
Five ambulances attended the scene, including one air ambulance. The victims were found injured in the truck.
An eight-year-old girl was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries where she remains in critical condition.
Three other children and a 43-year-old man also suffered serious injuries and remain in hospital where they are being treated.
It has been reported that a farmer who saw the explosion 'shot straight over' to the scene on a quad bike to help.
A local woman whose friend witnessed the incident said: 'My friend saw this from the pub, there was a massive bang and it just went up.
Pictured: The charred wreckage of the tipper truck that exploded outside a pub on Sunday afternoon
'The guy kicked the kids out and they ran. Kudos to the farmer who jumped on his quad and shot straight over to them. Hope they are all ok. It wasn't good.'
Another woman, who drives along Liley Lane every day, said: 'A road I use daily, so sorry for all involved in such [a] horrific accident hope the man and child pull through, [my] heart goes out to them all.'
The road was closed in both directions as a cordon went up while emergency services examined the scene.
West Yorkshire Police have now launched an investigation following the blaze - but officers do not suspect foul play.
A spokesperson for the force said: 'Police can confirm that a vehicle fire which caused serious injuries to five people in Mirfield yesterday is not being treated as suspicious.
'Emergency services were called to the Hare and Hounds Inn, Liley Lane, shortly after 2.15pm yesterday following reports that a vehicle was ablaze.
'One child, a girl aged eight, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries where she remains in a critical condition.
'Three further children and a man suffered serious injuries and remain in hospital where they are being treated for their injuries.
'Investigations which took place after the incident have established that the fire was not started deliberately and is not being treated as suspicious.'
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service said: 'We received an emergency call at 2.11pm yesterday (Sunday) to report an explosion in a vehicle on Liley Lane in Mirfield.
'A number of ambulance resources were dispatched to the scene, including four ambulances and the air ambulance, and five patients were conveyed to hospital.'
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue have been approached for further comment.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
