A WRITER is accusing a market operator of a "cover-up" after a gas cylinder exploded, causing a fire and injuring a vendor.

Freelance writer Elaine Everest was in Swanley town centre when she noticed smoke and commotion coming from the open-air market.

Traffic came to a standstill around the town and backed-up onto the A20 leaving hundreds of motorists stranded for up to two hours.

The blaze is thought to have started as a vendor disconnected a gas cylinder as he prepared to pack up.

Mrs Everest, of Oliver Road, Swanley, said: "The strange thing was in the middle of all the panic, stallholders were saying health and safety has not been breached, everything is fine'.

"Their attitudes reminded me of the Stepford wives, although I suppose they have to stick together, after all it's their livelihood."

Two fire appliances from Dartford and one from Swanley fire station attended the blaze, which took place on January 11.

A spokesman for Swanley fire station said: "A man was disconnecting the pipe from a cylinder when it exploded in his face. He was quite badly injured.

"Three canisters caught alight, although the fire did not spread."

Fire crews said the victim, believed to be a vendor on a Chinese food stall, was taken to Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, suffering from burns to his face and hands.

Mrs Everest, who was injured in April last year after walking into a metal pole on a stall in the market, said: "I heard rumours someone had smelled gas earlier on but nothing had been done.

"It is a cover-up. I think stallholders are under pressure. If they speak out they will lose their livelihoods."

Nick Hobday, director of Wendy Fare Markets, which operates the site, said: "Nothing was unsafe. It was due to human error and the trader was injured slightly. No other stalls or property were damaged."

In the past, Swanley mayor Councillor Barrie Wigg has highlighted how Wendy Fare Markets flouted five of the 17 operating rules, including obstructing emergency access.

A Sevenoaks Council spokesman said: "We are waiting to get a report back from the market operators.

"Our health and safety adviser will assess the report as soon as we receive it."