A WORKMAN was seriously burnt in an electrical explosion in Northfleet.

At about 11am, the 40-year-old man was laying gas piping in Stonebridge Road when a digger went through one of the cables, causing the explosion.

Firefighters and police officers who arrived at the scene say they treated the workman for serious burns and he was taken to Darent Valley Hospital.

During this time, the road was cordoned off and there was traffic congestion until around 11.50am.

A spokesman for Kent Fire Brigade said: "We were called out at about 11.09am on November 19 to the explosion. A man suffering from burns was taken to Darent Valley Hospital."

A spokesman for North Kent Police said: "There will be a health and safety investigation into what happened."

November 26, 2001 18:30