Three are seriously hurt as gas explosion rocks hotel

Three people, including two members of staff, were seriously injured in the blast at the rear of the Drumtochty Arms, in the village of Auchenblae, near Stonehaven.

Although it was thought everyone in the building had been accounted for, the emergency services were taking no chances last night.

Firefighters used thermal imaging cameras to scan the blast site for any victims trapped beneath fallen brick and tiles.

Specialist "urban rescue teams" from Aberdeen were also called in to help with the search.

The roof of the hotel's kitchen was blown off in the explosion which also destroyed the walls of an adjacent two-storey building, just before 5:30pm.

About 30 firefighters were involved in last night's rescue operation. Around 20 tonnes of rubble, piled up to 5ft high, could be seen in the rear courtyard of the hotel in the aftermath.

Neighbours told how they thought a bomb had gone off, while emergency workers said the number of casualties would have been much higher had the blast happened when the courtyard was busy with drinkers.

The hotel had only reopened just before Christmas after a year-long refurbishment carried out by its multi-millionaire owner, Charlie Anderson, who also runs nearby Drumtochty Castle.

Mr Anderson, who was understood to be in Canada last night, also has his own North Sea oil drilling company, Anderguage.

The hotel is managed by Bruce Aitken, an Highland Games athlete from Auchenblae.

Grampian Police last night said the explosion appeared to be connected to the hotel's liquid petroleum gas supply. The cylinder was at the rear of the building. It is believed that equipment installation work had been carried out in the kitchen earlier in the day.

It is thought a barmaid, who suffered serious back injuries, another member of staff and a male in his twenties were all taken to hospital. However, all three had been able to walk out of the building.

Most of the village's main street was cordoned off in the wake of the incident.

Julie Barron, who lives three doors along from the hotel, said: "I heard an almighty bang just before 5:30pm. At first, I thought my roof had come in, then I realised it was the hotel. I'm sure the bar was open at the time but I've no idea how many people were in there."

Ewan Smith, who lives on the main street, added: "It was a like a bomb had gone off. I've been told the blast could be heard half a mile away it was so powerful."

Speaking from the scene last night, Grampian Fire and Rescue area commander Andy Coueslant said: "We've got a significant rubble pile at the rear of the property that has fallen into a small courtyard which is at basement level. In some places, the rubble is 5ft deep.

"We are treating this as a potential rescue scenario in that we are not 100 per cent sure that everyone has been accounted for. Until that happens, we will continue to treat this as a rescue.

"Clearly, had it been a nice summer's day, with people outside enjoying the courtyard, it may have been a different story altogether than tonight. Fortunately, the number of casualties appears to be very small."

Grampian Police said there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances. Inspector Jim Gordon said: "There is no natural gas supply in the village so there was no need to evacuate neighbouring homes."