A PENSIONER today relived the moment of terror when a gas explosion flung him across a room and left him with severe flash burns.

Leslie Pixton, 72, was injured two weeks ago when he is believed to have ignited a build-up of gas in his Rutland Street home in Accrington as he lit a cooker ring to boil a kettle.

He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with severe burns to his chest, shoulder, arms and face and suffering from shock.

He was transferred to the burns unit at the Royal Preston Hospital and returned home last weekend.

He said: "I put the kettle on the gas ring but when I went to ignite it there was an horrific bang and all hell was let loose.

"I was thrown out of the kitchen to the door and I was on fire so I rolled on the settee to put the flames out. My shirt had actually melted onto me.

"I was shocked and wondered what had happened and then I went to phone for an ambulance but the telephone was out in the back yard because the blast had put the window through."

Leslie, who lives alone since his wife Audrey died seven years ago, said: "By the time I got to Blackburn hospital my face was so swollen it was like looking out through a letter box.

"It was terrifying when it happened but I didn't really feel any pain at first even though I could see skin lifting off my hands in sheets. I was a mess for the first four days and it was horrible but the hospital staff were brilliant.

"The main thing I was bothered about was my face. I knew my hair would grow back but I was concerned about permanent scarring or having to have skin grafts because I believe that is very painful but I didn't need any. I can't thank the hospital staff enough for all they did."

Leslie suffered six per cent burns in the explosion on August 1 and will require further treatment.

A fire service spokesman said: "There was an escape of gas and the man unwittingly set light to it."

There was no major damage to Leslie's house other than the broken living room window and burns to the kitchen roof and the settee. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is continuing.