Gas explosion after van crashes

The driver of the van escaped before the explosion

A transit van carrying gas cylinders exploded after it crashed near Southampton on Saturday night.

The driver escaped before the explosion and subsequent fire.

Police officers who were first on the scene also had a lucky escape as they narrowly avoided being hit by the blast as they went to examine the vehicle.

A 400m (437yd) cordon was in place on Botley Road in Romsey while fire crews work to cool a container storing acetylene gas.

Flying debris

The exclusion zone was not due be lifted until 2000 BST on Sunday, but the emergency services said it had not been necessary to evacuate any homes.

David Marshall, from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said it was very lucky no-one had been injured.

He said: "With the flying debris from shards of metal, it could have been very dangerous - devastating - to anyone who was in close proximity.

"If it had happened closer to Romsey we would have had to evacuate a considerable number of houses."