A pensioner was in hospital last night following a gas explosion at his Inverness home.
Jimmy Mackintosh was in his house in Abban Street with his wife Mary and other family members when the blast happened around 8.30am.
A fire broke out in the kitchen and Mr Mackintosh suffered burns as he and the other occupants fled the blaze.
The OAP, who is in his 70s, was admitted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness where his condition was described as “comfortable” last night.
It is understood the couple’s granddaughter Leah, and her mother Lynda were also in the house when the force of the explosion blew out the porch windows.
Three fire appliances raced to the scene and firefighters gave Mr Mackintosh emergency first aid before handing him over to paramedics.
A joint investigation by the fire and rescue service, police and SGN Gas engineers was launched immediately.
The fire happened inside the kitchen extension of the Mackintosh’s semi-detached corner house at 39 Abban Street, which sits at the junction with Telford Road.
Both streets were closed to traffic while the emergency services dealt with the incident.
SGN gas engineers isolated the gas and electricity supplies to the property and took precautionary ground readings at various locations on the road beside the property.
The explosion blew the wooden window frame out, leaving it hanging from the building.
Neighbour Angela Cameron, of 44 Abban Street, was getting her children ready for school when she heard the blast.
She said: “I just heard a loud bang and at first I thought it was someone falling upstairs. I had no idea it was an explosion until my husband phoned me to let me know. It was a bit scary when I found out.
“We have been seeing policemen and firefighters and people from the gas board working around the area. I am a bit worried about it.
“We had to go the long way around to get to the school as we were not allowed near the house.”
Inverness fire station manager Ross Nixon said crews did well to contain the damage.
“The crew responded really quickly,” he said.
“I have full praise for all of the firefighters, who managed to extinguish the fire without it spreading to neighbouring properties or causing further damage to that house.
“There is a significant amount of damage to the kitchen as a result of the fire and we are working to secure the property as quickly as possible.
“Obviously our thoughts go to the people in that house but we will continue to try to establish the cause.”
A fire service spokesman said: “It would appear there was a small explosion at the property, the cause of which will be investigated. A male occupant sustained burn injuries and was placed in the care of paramedics before being taken to hospital for treatment.”
A SGN spokeswoman said: “We understand a gentleman who was in the property at the time has been taken to the local hospital. Our thoughts are with him and his family.
“While it is too early to speculate as to what has happened, we will continue to work closely with the authorities to help discover the cause.”