Man hurt in blast 'critical but stable'

Neighbours described how a man was pulled from the rubble of his home following an explosion

A man who was injured in an explosion at his home is in a critical but stable condition, police said.

The severely burned 57-year-old was flown to hospital after the blast destroyed a semi-detached house in Kirkland Walk, Middlesbrough, on Tuesday.

Officers at the time said he was in a critical condition, but he has since stabilised.

Cleveland Police said an investigation into the cause of the explosion was ongoing.

The blast happened at about 12:40 BST, with neighbours describing a "big bang", houses "shaking" and smoke.

Michael Clark, who lives in the street, described how the man was pulled from the rubble.

"Three lads went in and pulled him out, they didn't hesitate, they went straight in," Mr Clark said.

Residents in the square and surrounding streets were evacuated from their homes after the explosion, which damaged 11 other houses, police said.

Park End and Beckfield councillors said houses near the blast site would be assessed, after police had finished at the scene, to decide whether they needed to be demolished.

The area around the site of the explosion remains cordoned off due to the structural danger posed by the damaged building, police said.