OCCUPANTS of a house in Chippenham were forced to flee after a small kitchen fire and explosion at their property this morning.

Two fire crews from Chippenham and one from Corsham were called out to the incident at 11.32am on Palmer Street, following a small kitchen fire and explosion of a small gas canister which caused damage to windows.

The fire was extinguished hosing two breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet, with crews leaving the scene by 1pm.

A Red Cross support team were called to the house to help the occupants but no-one was hurt in the blaze.

Charlie Murray, a resident living on the road, said: “I was just in my bedroom and all these fire engines came down the road.

“I went out and spoke to a passer-by and they said there had been an explosion but I didn’t hear anything massive.

“It looked like a few of the windows were blown out.”