Llanbradach fire: Two people have 'life-threatening' injuries

Two people suffered life-threatening injuries after a fire and explosion destroyed a house, leaving five people in hospital.

An eyewitness said the front door "blew off the house" in Llanbradach, Caerphilly, at about 17:30 BST on Monday.

Police are not looking for anybody else in connection with the blast, which was not related to the mains gas network.

The mother of one of those hurt said she was "still in shock".

Jayne Muller said her 18-year-old daughter Beccy Edwards was visiting her boyfriend Jordan Ford at the home he shares with his parents in Dan Y Darren when the explosion happened.

Investigations are under way into the cause of the explosion

She said Beccy was in a different room to Jordan and two of his friends but she suffered a burn to her foot and singed hair.

Jordan's mother Sonia, who was downstairs at the time, was also injured.

"I'm just thinking of the boys and the family and everyone who was hurt," Mrs Miller said.

She said Jordan is now being treated in hospital in Birmingham after being transferred from the specialist burns unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

Family members including his father Jason and grandmother have travelled to Birmingham to be at his bedside, she added.

Four other casualties were taken to hospital after the blast and one has since been released.

• Five in hospital after house explosion

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said all five of the people injured in the fire "self rescued" and were helped by neighbours until help arrived.

Gwent Police and the fire service said, in a joint statement, there was significant damage to the premises and a cordon was in place as a safety precaution.

They are working together to to "ensure the structural stability of the property".

Wales and West Utilities said its engineers had isolated the house's gas supply and that following tests, it could confirm that the explosion and fire were not related to the mains network.

Some 25 fire fighters tackled the blaze and crews will now carry out a "full and meaningful investigation to determine the actual cause of the incident."

Neighbour Brian Jenkins, 64, said two air ambulances were at the scene.

Llanbradach councillor Colin Mann told BBC Radio Wales: "It was an absolute shock what happened. It just shows you can be living a perfectly normal life one minute and the next you can be caught up in the middle of that."