A PENSIONER injured in a gas blast at his Blackburn home yesterday has been transferred to a specialist burns unit.

Bill Riley, 70, suffered injuries, including burns to his hands and face, after an explosion in his kitchen.

Emergency services were called to the address in St James' Road, Bastwell, at around 8am.

Mr Riley was initially taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary, but later transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital which has a special burns unit.

An elderly woman, who is believed to be a friend of Mr Riley, was also at the house at the time of the blast and was taken to hospital for a check-up.

Police said she was shocked by the incident, but was uninjured.

The explosion caused some structural damage at the rear of the property and blew part of the front window out.

Transco workers were called to the scene to turn off the supply at the meter.

A spokesman said a cooker gas tap had been left on, unignited, which led to a build up that was triggered possibly by lighting a match or switching on a light.

Structural engineers from Blackburn with Darwen Council were also called to assess the damage to the property.