Demolition work has started on a row of houses hit by a devastating gas explosion that left two people with life-changing injuries.

The four properties – three of which are owned by Ashford Borough Council – are being pulled down more than four months after leak from a portable heater sparked the huge blast.

A digger moved onto the site in Mill View, Willesborough, earlier this week and contractors are working behind a large black hoarding.

At the time of the incident, which happened just before 8am on May 4, Ethel Hanford, 99, and her son Donald, 75, were living in the home that housed the heater.

They were rescued by heroic builder Andy Hodges and his son Harry and were treated at the William Harvey Hospital along with three others.

The two people who suffered serious injuries lived next to the Hanfords and were airlifted to hospital in London.

In a statement released this week, ABC confirmed it will rebuild the three council-owned properties once demolition work is complete.

A spokesman said: "We have been liaising with the insurance company for number 13, which is privately owned, and now that they have arranged the demolition of their property, we are ready to proceed swiftly with the demolition of the remaining council properties.

"Once the site has been cleared, we will reinstate the three council-owned properties as previously built.

"Since the explosion we have rehoused and supported three households and we are currently supporting and working with another family with regards to their accommodation needs."

In July, a family fun day held at the William Harvey pub in Church Road raised more than £1,000 for the victims of the explosion.

The money was donated to a campaign set up on JustGiving by Ben Farnham, which collected almost £12,500.

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford