An elderly man who lives above Manchester's bombed Arndale Centre, emerged from his flat today - three days after the blast.
The man, who is believed to be in his 70s, rang the property owners of Cromford Court flats this afternoon to tell them there had been an explosion.
The shocked owners immediately rang the police, who rang the old man back. They told him to stay where he was and that they were coming to get him. Within a few minutes officers had arrived and escorted the bemused resident from the building.
He told them he had been unwell and had been resting in his bed at the time of the explosion.
Social services are now to rehouse the man who has not been named.
