Man burned in gas explosion

The blast, just after 8am, punched a hole in the wall of a block of flats in Harrow and wrecked the roof.

Eighty residents, many of them elderly, were evacuated from the fourstorey block and surrounding properties to a community centre.

The injured man, in his forties, was airlifted to hospital.

Thirty firefighters attended the scene at Annan Court in Drinkwater Road. They were working this afternoon to make safe the block, which was built only last year. However, it may have to be torn down.

Fire service spokesman Richard Claydon said: "Initial indications are that it was a gas explosion but I can't confirm that. Firefighters are having to do the minimum possible within the building because of structural damage."

Neighbours said the flat in which the blast took place had been flooded before Christmas when a pipe burst. George Gallagher, 55, who lives below, said: "I don't think the flats are very safe and people are worried about going back in them. Mine has cracks down the wall."

He added: "I was in my bedroom this morning and there was a flash and a bang. I put my coat on and ran out downstairs. The damage went through my ceiling."

Raymond Gray, 80, was in bed in the next door flat with his wife Carmen, 56.

He said: "I heard a crash and saw the ceiling fall in on me. I jumped out of bed and grabbed my wife. Tiles and bricks were flying everywhere. My bedroom is just nine inches away from next door and my home has been destroyed as well.

"It sounded like a bomb. I could see from my bedroom through into his bedroom-My wife is really upset. Our flat was one of the best in the block. We only moved in last year and spent so much money on it. I have no idea what I'm going to do or where I'm going to stay."

Stephanie Wackett, 62, a school cleaner, said: "I was putting my son in his school bus when there was a massive crash. I live across the road and I could smell gas from there."

Nila Vadgama, 44, said: "I was having tea in my kitchen when my window just exploded. I thought it was a bomb. The whole building was shaking."

A police spokesman said officers were "assisting the fire service at this stage".

A spokesman for Harrow council said 19 of the 24 flats were occupied, mostly by elderly residents.

Home Group, which owns the flats, is providing emergency accommodation. A spokesman said: "Our priority is looking after tenants to ensure their immediate needs are met and trauma is minimised."