FIREFIGHTERS today appealed for people to report any smells of gas immediately as a family-of-four recovers in hospital from severe burns.

Station Commander Kevin Murray, of Burnley fire station, revealed that six residents had smelled gas the night before the explosion at a house in Standen Road, Clitheroe, on Easter Monday morning.

John and Lynn Marsden and their two boys, Steven and Andrew, thought to be aged six and nine, suffered 25 to 40 per cent burns and are in a stable condition in hospital.

John and Lynn were taken to the Royal Preston Hospital and the boys to Booth Hall Children's Hospital, in Manchester.

Transco officers were today still at the scene investigating the cause.

The family escaped the house in their pyjamas after the blast blew open the back doors. Neighbours described how they the family stood in the garden dazed and screaming, with their pyjamas smouldering and their skin burned.

They said that John's shoes had been singed off his feet and that there were blood footprints about the garden. The house is now too dangerous for the family to move back in as the roof was lifted several inches.

SC Murray, who was in charge of the operation at Standen Road, said that people should not feel foolish for contacting Transco for a free check.

He added: "If any families are not certain there is no problem phoning.

"About half a dozen people came up to me and said they smelled gas the night before in Standen Road but none reported it.

"Some areas are prone to smells that some people aren't sure of, but any doubt can be erased by calling for a check.

"People should also keep gas canisters that have the 'flame' symbol on them either in cupboards, or low down in rooms, ensuring that small children do not have access to them.

"These can ignite and turn into fire balls."

He added that he could not say if this had started the fire in the Marsden's home as the investigation was still on going.

The Transco number to arrange a free check is 0800 111999.