Cleat Hill explosion: Victim named as 85-year-old

Paul Swales, aged 85, died after the explosion and fire at the house earlier this month

A man who died after a house exploded has been named by police.

Paul Swales, 85, died on 19 October after emergency services attended reports of a house on fire in Cleat Hill, Bedford.

A woman in her 80s - as yet unnamed - was a family member and remains in a serious condition in hospital, police said.

More than 40 households within a 100m cordon remain evacuated from their properties, and the fire service said it was "yet to determine the exact cause" of the explosion.

Mr Swales was killed and a woman was critically injured in the blast

Paying tribute to Mr Swales, his family said: "Paul was a kind and loving man who we dearly miss.

"We thank the emergency services for their professionalism and the kind and heartfelt messages that have been received by everyone.

"A special thanks goes to the gentleman that bravely pulled our family member [the woman in her 80s] from the fire.

"Our thoughts are also with the people that have been impacted since and we hope the distress will soon end."

Emergency services were called to Cleat Hill on Saturday, 19 October

At a public meeting on Monday night, Jim Davies, assistant chief fire officer at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We’re still yet to determine the exact cause [of the explosion] but it's getting nearer and nearer as we start to stabilise the structure.

"We will look to reduce [the cordon] as and when we can… but safety is our number one priority."

Mr Davies said those evacuated had been given the chance to return to their homes to collect belongs while "supported by fire service staff".

The explosion that killed Mr Swales was in the same area where, on 2 July, contractors struck a pocket of natural gas while drilling a borehole to install a heat pump, causing another evacuation of nearby properties.

A separate ongoing investigation is under way into the circumstances of that earlier gas leak.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it was working on a permanent solution to seal off the borehole and work was under way to get the escaping gas "under control".

Bedfordshire Police says it will remain at the scene

Ch Insp Katherine Rivers, from Bedfordshire Police, said the force had also been continuing to work with a number of partners, including the HSE, to help determine the cause of the explosion, including "previous issues reported".

"I can appreciate there’s going to be several witnesses, we could be talking about up to 100 who the investigation team may be contacting," she told Monday's public meeting.

"We have and will continue to support the partnership response by staffing the cordons and maintaining a police presence in the area to ensure empty properties are secure."