Blast victim Jimmy Brown is hoping to get on with his life now the report into the explosion which destroyed his home has been published.

Mr Brown, 78,was lucky to get out of his home alive.

His son Daniel welcomed the publication of the report.

He said: "We have been waiting for this report because it enables my father to start working on his insurance claim.

"My father lost virtually all of his possessions in the explosion and the publication of this report is good news for him."

But some neighbours have expressed their disgust after learning Wales and West Utilities will not face prosecution for their role in the major gas explosion.

People living near The Horsefair are disappointed no one take responsibility for the blast that destroyed pensioner Jimmy Brown's home in April and damaged other homes in the area.

Next-door neighbours John Nichols and his fiancée Sally Watts, who were forced out of their home by the blast, have branded the report by the Health and Safety Executive a huge disappointment.

The couple, both 34, have had to cancel their wedding due to the stress of moving home.

Mr Nichols said: "The stress of the last few months and moving has been really damaging for everyone involved. It makes me so angry to think the companies involved are just walking away with an improvement order.

"If someone had died, which could have been a possibility, then this would not be the action taken.

"Ultimately the responsibility lies with Wales and West Utilities who should know what is going on at their sites.

"I feel sorry for the workman who made the mistake. He should have been properly trained by the company he worked for."

Fran Vandelli, who lives three doors down on West Street, thinks the report is protecting the individual workers responsible for the blast.

She said: "These individual men are not being prosecuted because if they did it would mean a prison sentence for them. By this report the Government is setting a precedent that if no one takes responsibility for an accident like this no company policy will change."

Neighbour Peter Sanderson, whose home, directly opposite Mr Brown's needed a new roof after the explosion, said: "I think the insurance companies will prosecute Wales and West Utilities.

"What hope do we have to take them on but the big companies will not let this lie, there is about two million pounds worth of damage in this area."