Wrecked!

The end face of a semi-detached home in Beechcroft Road, Upper Stratton was completely destroyed leaving personal belongings scattered in the driveway.

Fire crews tackled a blaze and tried to make the building safe while they searched for anybody inside as neighbours were unsure whether the owner had gone to work.

The owner, named locally as Paul Hebdon, is believed to work shifts.

The house next door was also damaged but the owners are thought to be on holiday.

Their daughter was told about the explosion and reacted with shock when she arrived.

Two workmen were in the next-door house at the time of the explosion, working on a boiler.

Senior firefighter Pete Townsend said the explosion may have been triggered when one of the workmen switched on an electric light.

He said: "The building is in danger of collapsing.

"At the moment even doors are providing support.

"If one was opened even that could trigger a collapse."

Emergency scaffolders were called to make it safe.

Neighbour Mick Bailey, 52, said: "I heard this dull boom. At first I thought it was a car crash. I was really shaken up when I went outside and I saw the collapsed building."

Beechcroft Road was closed between Dores Road and St Philips Road and traffic was diverted. It caused long queues during the rush hour.

Homes on either side of the house were evacuated.

Insp Willie Glasgow of Swindon police said: "We have now confirmed there was nobody in the affected premises. There was no car in the drive and the beds were made up. We can also confirm there was a gas leak. It was quite busy at that time of the day with people taking children to school. Fortunately no-one was hurt."

Bhavani Vadde