THE cause of a major gas blast in Faversham in June has been revealed as structural problems with the house at the centre of the explosion.

The blast ripped apart houses in Abbey Street on June 6 and residents affected have been left in the dark until now as to the reason for it.

The epicentre was a home rented by 86-year-old Elsie Howland, now recovering in a Faversham hospital, who was blown out of her home and into her garden by the force.

An investigation by Sarah Griffith, of the Fire Investigation Unit, revealed that the house's gas main pipes were routed via rotten and woodworm-ridden timber ceiling joists in the basement.

Her report concludes: "A detailed examination of the pipework identified an old joint just beyond the meter as the only viable point of release. Deteriorating structural timberwork in or around the basement could provide a mechanism by which the joint could have been progressively weakened to failure.

"In my view ignition of the resulting gas/air mixture had most probably occurred at ground floor level by either a naked flame or electircal spark, for example from a switch or live appliance."

There was no evidence of tampering to the gas supply or deliberate ignition.

While the police investigation is fininshed, the long-awaited Health and Safety Executive report is still not complete.