AN 82-YEAR-OLD woman was rescued from her home after a gas explosion destroyed her conservatory, blew out a wall and ripped a door off its hinges.

The explosion, in the kitchen of the woman’s home, in Giffords Cross Road, Corringham, is thought to have been caused by a leak in the pipe bringing gas into the property.

The woman was shocked, but unhurt and a quick-thinking neighbour rushed to her aid and got her out of the badly-damaged house.

Firefighters moved 12 people from the houses on either side, leaving them to shelter with relatives and neighbours, as the area was checked and made safe.

Neighbour Mick Phillips said: “I was told the meter exploded.

How true this is I don’t know, but it did a lot of damage and the old girl was taken to hospital.”

The house was still burning when firefighters arrived, but they soon put out the fire, leaving just a small flame burning on the gas pipe to stop gas from building up and causing another explosion.

The road was closed for two hours, re-opening at about 9.30pm, while National Grid teams worked to isolate the gas supply.

Fire service assistant divisional officer Mark Turnbull said: “This was a very substantial gas explosion and this woman has had an extremely lucky escape.

“The explosion has caused a great deal of damage and it is incredibly lucky no one was killed, or even hurt.”

National Grid was already carrying out gas mains replacement work in the road and has been doing so for several weeks.

They are due to finish the work next month.

A gas company spokesman said: “The cause of the explosion is as yet unknown.

“National Grid is replacing the gas mains in the street and had been due to renew the service pipe, which runs between the gas main in the road and the house.

“An investigation by National Grid and the Health and Safety Executive is under way.”