Mystery surrounds a gas explosion which left a family's home in ruins.

The blast hurled 30-year-old mother of three, Marie Johnson, through the ground floor window and into the garden of her home in Eamont Road, Norton.

Emergency services arrived to find her partner, 30-year-old Jason Bell wandering around the house dazed, but unhurt, after the blaze earlier this month.

What remained of the semi-detached house has been pulled down. Fortunately, the couple's three children were sleeping at their grandparent's home when the explosion occurred, triggered when Marie went to light a gas fire which is thought to have had a leak.

The back wall of the house was completely blown away.

A spokesman from Transco said they had been to look at the house and both the gas meter and service pipe are fine.

The Health and Safety Executive are now carrying out a full inquiry to find out what caused the explosion.