A man in his 80s suffered burns when an explosion brought down half of a bungalow.

Fire crews were called to Elliots Drive in Walton-on-the-Naze around 7.30pm last night (Tuesday) after about half of the building, which measured eight metres by 10 metres, collapsed.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said crews, from three appliances, used jets to extinguish a fire.

A spokesman for the service said firefighters were called after an explosion was heard. He said: “No one is missing or trapped as a result of the collapse but an ambulance crew dealt with a man in his eighties who has suffered burns.”

Crews from Frinton and Clacton were called to the fire. They had the blaze under control by 8.10pm and left a few minutes later.

It is not clear how badly hurt the man is or the cause of the collapse at this stage. An investigation into the cause is now underway.

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