Neighbours have told of their terror when a huge gas explosion destroyed a maisonette and left the occupant with burns on his arms and singed hair.

Yesterday, as they were let back into their homes, they recalled how bricks, mortar and debris were blasted into the air on Saturday afternoon.

The explosion, which ripped apart the rear wall of a first-floor maisonette in Sunningdale Drive, St Leonards, rocked surrounding properties and brought crowds of people streaming into the street in panic.

The occupant, in his 60s, staggered out of his ruined home and was taken to Conquest Hospital in Hastings suffering from 20 per cent burns to his upper body.

The man, who has not been named, was later transferred to the specialist burns unit at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.

Sunningdale Drive resident Nellie Ambrose said: "I opened the back door to go into the garden. Suddenly I heard this massive bang and saw all this debris and smoke everywhere."

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called just after 5pm.

Everyone living in the block of four maisonettes and two three-bedroom houses was evacuated as firefighters and structural engineers inspected the properties.

Steve and Lesley Donnelly, who own the house next door to the damaged maisonette, stayed with friends on Saturday night and at a nearby caravan park on Sunday.

Mrs Donnelly said: "Just before the explosion I was out in the garden.

"I was sitting opposite the neighbours' bedroom window, which was completely blown out. If I had still been there when it happened I would have been killed."

Mr Donnelly added: "I can't believe the old guy wasn't killed by the force of the blast. The damage round the back garden is massive.

"If anyone had been in their back garden they would have been killed."

The couple praised the emergency services and Chichester Diocesan Housing Association, who helped all the residents find temporary accommodation.

Fire brigade Sub Officer Paul Evans, said: "There was no actual fire when we arrived but the whole of the rear of the first-floor maisonette had been blown away. The back garden was absolutely littered with debris.

"The woman living below was already out of the building. Had she been in the garden at the time, she could have been killed."

Police confirmed gas had caused the explosion and said they were not treating the blast as suspicious.

Officers are waiting to interview the owner of the maisonette, who is expected to remain in hospital for the next two weeks.