DOZENS of cars and several homes were damaged on a Kent estate after gas cylinders exploded on the back of a burning lorry.

Residents were evacuated from their homes as the blast hit houses in Pimpernel Way, Weedwood, Chatham, just before 2am on Friday.

Acetylene canisters had exploded when the recovery vehicle, believed to belong to a resident of the road, caught fire.

Firefighters were initially called to a fire in the road, but received reports of an explosion on their way to the scene.

A spokesman for Medway fire station said: "When we got there it looked like a bomb had gone off.

"Branches were hanging off trees, car windows had been smashed and tiles had been blown off of houses.

"The gas cylinder contained the most dangerous chemical gas there is. It is commonly used for cutting and welding vehicles."

Nobody was injured.