A 90-YEAR-OLD man escaped serious injury when his gas boiler exploded as he carried out repairs on it.

The man, who has not been named, suffered only minor burns in the blast which badly damaged his semi-detached house, in the Fulwell area of Sunderland.

He was taken to Sunderland's Royal Infirmary with slight burns on his head, wrist and hands.

Station Officer David Bruce said: "It appears he was doing something with the gas heater in the bathroom when the explosion occurred.

"Fortunately, he was right at the centre of the blast and the shock waves went outwards causing extensive interior damage."

Structural engineers were examining the house yesterday.