A gas explosion was narrowly averted after firefighters broke their way into a home saturated with fumes.
The level of gas at the Westcliff flat in a four-storey block was so high that had crews arrived minutes later it would have caused an explosion.
The block in Balmoral Road was evacuated after neighbours reported a strong smell of fumes and gas company Transco were called to investigate on Friday at around 9.55pm.
Published Monday, December 16, 2002
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