Ref. 30155-36IT'S been a hard slog but the future is finally looking bright for Paul Hebden.

The 40-year-old hit the headlines earlier this year when his house in Beechcroft Road, Upper Stratton, blew up in a gas explosion.

Mr Hebden escaped unhurt because he decided he was going to buy his sandwiches and not make them that morning.

Minutes later the explosion ripped through the semi-detached house making it inhabitable.

Shortly after the incident in April, Mr Hebden's nightmare worsened when he lost his job at Calne-based removal firm, Quickmove.

Then last month we reported how his new-found relationship with brunette Melinda Lawrence had hit the rocks.

Although his love life has not picked up, Mr Hebden is now taking heart from good news on the house front.

Last night as he prepared for a new job, which starts today, he said: "The estimates are now in and it looks like we are going to go with local firm EW Beard."

The bill for repairing the house is estimated at £129,000.

"All being well the builders should get to work within the next eight weeks.

"The house should be re-built and ready for me to move in by February or March next year.

"Obviously it's a huge relief as I've been living in temporary accomm-odation ever since."

Initially it was feared that the semi-detached house would have to be razed to the ground.

Mr Hebden, who is currently living in St Austell Way, Rodbourne, has another reason to crack open the champagne, because his new job with Cardiff-based removal firm, Fox Removers, comes with a car.

"When I lost my job I also lost my company car," said Mr Hebden.

"So my only transport over the past few months has been the bus or my feet.

"Now it looks like I'm going to be driving around in a nice new VW Passat. Last month I got a got with Comet on the Orbital Retail Park as a sales assistant, but my heart is in the removal business.

"I have been in the industry for 14 years and know it like the back of my hand."

Although the job entails visiting homes in the south Midlands area, Mr Hebden has been told that it could lead to a position in Swindon.

He added: "For once I had a bit of luck.

"Apparently the boss had offered the job to another guy, because he was more local. But he let him down.

"So I had a phone call asking me if I wanted it. Things are starting to look good again.

Kevin Shoesmith