A 91-year-old man is fighting for his life after suffering serious burns in a gas explosion which destroyed part of his Old Harlow home on Saturday night.

Richard Hannam, of Black Lion Court, Market Street, was taken to the specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, with burns to his head, face and hands.

He is in a critical condition in intensive care.

The ground floor back wall of the property was blown out by the force of the blast, but neighbouring houses were not damaged.

Millicent Billington, who has lived next door for about 12 years, had just gone to bed when the explosion happened. She said: "I heard this great big crash, I thought it was thunder. It was a massive bang.

"I got up and opened the window and all I could smell was burning. I saw all this rubble at the back but I didn't realise where it was from. He's a lovely man, he keeps that house and garden beautiful."

Another neighbour, Dennis, who lives opposite Mr Hannam, said: "You couldn't say nice enough things about him. Last week he was out here and laughing and joking, he is a joke a minute. He's 91 but you wouldn't take him for 71, he's very lively. The rest of the residents are devastated by this."

Fire officers, police, and an ambulance were called to Mr Hannam's house at around 11.15pm. Gas company officials also attended to check for leaks.

A police spokesman said one element of the fire investigation was to establish whether the gas cooker had inadvertently been left on.

Harlow Council building control officers have examined the property, which is part of a residential housing scheme, to see if it can be restored.

July 16, 2002 11:30