A TOWN crier was left fearing for his life when an exploding washing machine filled his Warminster house with thick smoke.

Firefighters and police were called to Phil Seddon's home in Deverill Road when his house was plunged into darkness after the explosion.

Mr Seddon, 49, who has been town crier for Warminster since March, said he thought his house was about to burn down after hearing the loud bang while he was watching television.

He said: "There was this sudden massive bang and I was plunged into total darkness. The place started filling with thick smoke.

"I kept thinking the whole house must be on fire and I fled out the house and started panicking."

Mr Seddon also remembered the terrifying moment when he realised his back door was jammed and he had no idea where his front door keys were.

He said: "I was in total darkness and feeling my way around trying to find the keys. I managed to find my coat and my two dogs Dinsdale and Bisley and make my way out.

"I took the phone off the hook and managed to run out into the garden before finding that it didn't work either."

After running to a nearby phonebox, Mr Seddon managed to alert the emergency services and two fire engines from Warminster were quickly on the scene.

Mr Seddon said: "The fire brigade were there within a few minutes and went inside the house to make sure that nothing was smouldering.

"They discovered that the cause of the thick smoke was the washing machine blowing up. I am thankful the house didn't burn down, I really thought it was on fire.

"There was a horrible acrid smell inside the house and some things had smoke damage but the fire brigade did a good job."

The police also arrived on the scene to investigate after a series of malicious calls to the fire brigade were made from the phone box Mr Seddon used.

He said: "I have never had to phone the emergency services before but it was just such an awful series of events to happen in one night.

"I thought I was well prepared for a fire with two fire extinguishers and a smoke alarm but they didn't seem to be of much use."

However, just days after the dramatic incident Mr Seddon managed to get the washing machine back in full working order after replacing a faulty condenser.