HORSE breeder Graham Ward and his partner are lucky to be alive after one of their two mobile homes exploded (Barnaby Chesterman writes).

Mr Ward and his parter, who live at Bushmeadow Farm at Lower Halstow, near Sittingbourne, were in bed when the drama unfolded.

The couple were in the mobile home they usually use. But they were awoken at about 3.30am by the explosion from the other mobile home next to it, probably from a gas bottle.

Mr Ward said: "I looked out the window and all I could see was a yellow glow. The first thing I did was put my shoes on and run out to get the hose. Then I tried to put it out with the fire extinguisher but eventually I rang the fire brigade.

"It was lucky we called them when we did because the fire burnt through our cables and the phone went dead soon after that. But they were great. They got here very quickly and saved our other home."

Firefighters battled hard to extinguish the flames before they engulfed the adjacent home while at risk from 12 nearby propane cylinders - two of which exploded.

Sub officer Mark Innes, from Sittingbourne Fire Station, said: "The problem we had was there were 12 propane cylinders involved in the fire. Two were jetted off and we had aerosol cans exploding which is also dangerous.

Mr Ward and his partner occasionally sleep in the second molbile home which was destroyed in the blaze. It was also sometimes used by a horse-rider who rides Mr Ward's horses at shows.

Mr Ward keeps 10 horses in stables and breeds Great Danes whose kennels were also destroyed. All 15 dogs Danes escaped unhurt. Mr Ward added: "I am just glad that I am not mourning a death.

"I don't know what would have happened if we had not heard a bang. It just turns your stomach."