AN investigation is taking place into an explosion which left a teenager with second degree burns.

Firefighters said Casey Hill, 17, was lucky to be alive after burning his face and arms when the explosion ripped through an extension at his home in Todmorden Road, Burnely.

The blast blew away the entire slated roof, the door and was strong enough to turn a stone windowsill around by 40 degrees.

When firefighters arrived at the large terraced house they found Casey in a dazed condition in the back street.

He was taken to Burnley General Hospital before being transferred to a burns unit at P d rescot.

He was in the intensive care unit where his condition was described today as poorly but stable.

Fire andRescue Service Station Officer Steve Cope said there was a large motorcycle in the out-house and one of the possibilities under consideration was a fuel leak from the machine.

He said: "There was a loud explosion and we got nine repeat calls from the public.

"On our way we saw a pall of smoke and when we arrived the brick-built extension was well alight.

"The entire slated roof was blown off, the door had been blown out, the door frame demolished and the stone window sill was turned around at a 40 degree angle. Casey was in the back street suffering from burns to his arms and face. He is lucky to be alive, that was a heck of an explosion."

Station Officer Cope added: "We don't know the story yet, we are still investigating the circumstances."

There was no gas supply to the extension so they were looking at other possibilities including a fuel leak from the motor cycle, camping gas cylinders and a tilly lamp.

Station Officer Cope added: "What the exact situation was we don't know until we can speak to him."