Two people were seriously hurt and 31 injured in the suspected gas blast at New Ferry, Wirral, on March 25, with several buildings destroyed and a regeneration plan is currently being drawn up

Liverpool city region’s political leaders are pledging £20,000 for the New Ferry Disaster relief fund.

Two people were seriously hurt and 31 injured in the suspected gas blast at New Ferry, Wirral, on March 25, with several buildings destroyed.

The new donation will come from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, headed by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.

It came after Mr Rotheram visited the site with Wirral South Labour MP Alison McGovern, Wirral Council leader Phil Davies and Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry

The emergency fund was set up by local charity New Beginnings.

The authority has matched the funds raised by the charity to support those affected by the explosion.

However Mr Rotheram has insisted that the donation is only aimed to provide short-term relief and more long-term, strategic help is required.

He said: “This (the donation) is nothing to do with the long-term needs of the area – it is just to provide some immediate relief.

“We are looking at what steps we can take to deal with the human impact of the New Ferry explosion, but also to look at the longer term redevelopment of the whole area.

“I have also given my own pledge to local residents that this will not be the forgotten disaster.”

Wirral Council is currently working up a masterplan for the regeneration of New Ferry which will be completed in the next couple of weeks.