Gas blast escape for 'lucky' man

Two neighbouring homes must be demolished (Pic: Martyn Ratcliffe)

An 80-year-old Wiltshire man who escaped with minor cuts and bruises after his home was destroyed in a gas explosion said he was "lucky".

Jimmy Brown was in the kitchen of his home in Burnham Road, Malmesbury, at the time of the blast and received minor burns to his hands and face.

Two other 300-year-old adjoining homes will have to be demolished as the result of the explosion.

"I've got a streak of self-preservation that's rather well developed," he said.

Mr Brown and his dog Bessie got out safely. Nobody else was injured.

An investigation has been launched

Police cordoned off roads in the area while emergency services were at the scene.

Six homes and 15 cars were damaged.

Lee Goodship, landlord of the Three Cups Inn, was about two minutes' walk from the blast.

"There was a huge explosion and one of the regulars thought something had hit the front of the pub," he said.

The Health and Safety Executive has begun an investigation to find out how the explosion happened.