WE THOUGHT IT WAS A BOMB GOING OFF

BY ADAM ASPINALL THE body of a man was pulled from the wreckage of a house after an explosion described by petrified families as sounding like a bomb.

Friends named the victim killed by the suspected gas blast as Jamie Kirkby.

The three-storey end-of-terrace home collapsed, with debris being hurled roughly 30 yards and crushing cars.

Police said the man who died in the 2.30am explosion was 48. Liam Johnson, 33, who lives a quarter of a mile away, said: “It was like a bomb going off.

“Me and my wife and two kids all woke up – we were terrified.”

Homes were evacuated as firefighters searched the rubble. The house next door was also badly damaged.

Neighbours said there was a strong smell of gas. Andy Phillips, 44, said: “We live 100 yards away. It shook ours and many other houses.”

He added the destroyed home was a shared house for people “getting back on their feet after hard times”.

The property in Andover, Hampshire, is owned by housing firm Aster Group, who said they were offering help and support to the residents involved.

There have been no other reported injuries, according to police.

Chief Inspector Kory Thorne said the inquiry into what triggered the blast “will take some time”.

Gas distribution company SGN said: “While it is too early to speculate as to what has happened. We’re working closely with the emergency services to help identify the cause.”