THE Malmesbury man who walked away from an explosion that demolished his house has thanked friends and neighbours who banded together to help him in the wake of the blast.

Musician James Brown escaped with burns after his West Street cottage blew up when he switched on his kettle for a cup of tea on April 24.

The blast rocked the town causing devastation estimated in the region of £2million.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive is centering on gas as a possible cause.

In a statement Mr Brown said: "My dear family, friends, neighbours, and the good people of Malmesbury.

"I cannot thank you all enough for your help and support after that calamitous explosion in Malmesbury's Horsefair last week.

"I had a seemingly miraculous escape, sustaining only a relatively small number of cuts and burns, which are healing rapidly in the remarkable Burns Unit in Salisbury's District Hospital.

"I was very upset to learn that the blast had caused so much damage to vehicles, and to various properties in the square, and I trust that the appropriate insurance companies will shoulder their responsibilities promptly.

"I was dismayed and disappointed that the National Press made so many factual errors in their reporting, with one even saying that I had ventured into the inferno to look for Bessie, my dog.

"Apparently I came out for a second time with Bessie cradled in my arms! The truth was more mundane, as I had been whisked away to have some first aid.

Bessie had indeed been recovered, with her voracious appetite still intact. I gather that it is Bessie who is the only "celebrity" in the whole affair "as seen on TV!" - and I would like it to stay like this, please.

"I know that I am lucky to be alive, and it was my next-door neighbour, John Nichols who was calling my name loudly, who gave me the right direction to follow, which led to my successful escape.

"Only less than ten minutes beforehand, I had been praising him for the recent choice of a new and now damaged car.

Yours very humbly, Jimmy Brown."