Gas blast homes still not ready

The damaged cottages have needed extensive repairs

People whose cottages were badly damaged in a gas explosion in Wiltshire last year are still waiting to move back into their homes.

Four cottages in the Horsefair area of Malmesbury were wrecked by the blast in April 2007.

Two of the homes had to be demolished, although no-one was seriously injured in the incident.

The blast was caused by workmen who connected the gas mains supply to an old pipe which had not been sealed off.

'A miracle'

Maureen West, who lives next door to the damaged cottages, said: "My house was badly damaged at the back. Every room had to be redecorated apart from one, because they were all cracked, but I did manage to stay in the house.

"I think a lot of us feel that, although everything was covered by insurance, what we personally had to cope with - you haven't got any compensation for that."

She added: "It was a miracle. There were so many chances that somebody could have lost their life. There's a dentist opposite, a family of five just about to come out with mother and a nine-seater [vehicle] parked outside was a write-off.

"If they had been two minutes earlier, those children could have been in that car."

Speaking about her neighbour, Jimmy Brown, 80, whose house was almost destroyed, she said: "Talking to Mr Brown, he is very excited and very pleased with the work."

She said she understood that the work could be finished later this month, although there was no official confirmation of this.

The Health and Safety Executive investigation found that a contractor, working for Wales and West Utilities, was at fault but decided not to prosecute.