A GAS main exploded at a house in West Swindon, creating a 15ft fireball.

Residents at the mid-terrace three-bedroom house in Woodbury Close were not at home.

But the fire caused extensive damage to the front of the property.

Firefighters said the blaze could have had disastrous consequences.

Two engines from Swindon fire station attended the scene.

Station commander Pete Towns-end said: "On arrival we had a full-flowing gas fire to deal with.

"We had a fireball of gas going out across the front garden about 15ft across."

The gas main lay in a porch room next to the front door.

Somehow the pipe had ruptured and become ignited.

The fire burnt through the door to the room and spread to the pitched roof of the porch. It also melted the plastic housing of the electricity supply.

Mr Townsend said officers used a hose-reel to extinguish the fire before switching off the gas valve.

He said: "It could well have been extremely dangerous.

"Five minutes more and it would have got fully into the roof.

"If the fire had melted the pipe below the stop valve we would have had to wait for Transco to arrive and just contained the fire until them. With a gas fire it is safer to keep it burning if you can't cut off the supply.

"We have no evidence to suggest foul play with this fire but we would encourage anyone to keep the door to their gas mains locked."

Christine Blake, 48, who lives opposite, said she was one of several residents to dial 999.

She said: "I heard a faint bang while I was having a bath, I looked out of the window and saw smoke.

"It was just gushing out of the front of the house and I could see it was spreading. Somebody tried to put it out with a household fire extinguisher that put it out for a while then it just started again.

"When the brigade arrived it was starting to spread and make its way into the roof. It think they probably got there just in time."

The affected house is believed to be owned by an agent and rented out. Neighbours did not know who lived there.

Properties on either side were not damaged in the fire, which started around 11.20am yesterday.