THE man who unwittingly cheated death when a blast ripped through his home is now waiting to know whether the remains of his home have to be completely demolished.

Paul Hebden's semi-detached property in Beechcroft Road in Upper Stratton exploded after a gas leak. The house was on the verge of collapsing within an hour of him leaving for work at 7.30am on Thursday.

Insurers are conducting a survey after which they will decide whether the property can be salvaged or whether it has to be pulled it down.

The 40-year-old sales consultant said the reality of his narrow escape only sunk in the day after the blast.

"It was worse the next day in many respects," he said. "On the day it didn't seem real, it felt like a dream and I felt numbness. I was just so shocked but the shock has lessened.

"I keep thinking the one saving grace was that no-one was hurt.

"But I don't want to face going there just yet. I am just waiting to find out what will happen to my house."

Workmen were in the house next door working on a boiler.

It is thought the explosion may have been triggered when one of them switched on an electric light.

HSE spokeswoman Terri Gough said: "We are looking into whether we need to launch a full investigation.

"There may have been work going on and if people were dealing with gas then we need to check out whether there were any breaches of the health and safety at work act or whether employees were working in unsafe conditions."

Transco has launched its own investigation into the incident.

The side of the house was completely destroyed, leaving personal belongings scattered all over the driveway.

But no-one was injured even though it was a busy time of day with parents walking their children to nearby Beechcroft Infants School.

Contractors for Swindon Council's building control officers have now stabilised the building and made it waterproof using tarpaulin sheets.

Principal building control officer Keith Herbert, said: "We have taken the main part of the roof down and part of a wall that was dangerous.

"The site is now secure. If something does fall, it will fall within the boundary of the fencing.

" I am confident that we have made it safe although the building is nowhere near liveable."