A GAS explosion which sent a 23-year-old man flying through the front window of his Maidstone flat is being treated as suspicious. Police are keen to talk to the owner of a red Ford Orion seen in the area at the time and have asked witnesses to come forward.

Firefighters were called to the ground-floor maisonette in Bell Road, Park Wood, after the blast at 8.30pm on Sunday. They found the young man, who was being looked after by neighbours, fully conscious and lying on the ground outside.

He was taken to Maidstone hospital by ambulance before being transferred to the burns unit of Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex. His injuries were described as serious but not life-threatening.

A small fire inside the flat followed the explosion and several neighbours were evacuated from their homes as a precaution. Police investigating the explosion are keen to talk to the owner of a red Ford Orion seen in the area at the time and have asked witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information should call Det Supt Ian Rogerson on 01622 608182.

A GAS explosion which sent a 23-year-old man flying through the front window of his Maidstone flat is being treated as suspicious. Police are keen to talk to the owner of a red Ford Orion seen in the area at the time and have asked witnesses to come forward.

Firefighters were called to the ground-floor maisonette in Bell Road, Park Wood, after the blast at 8.30pm on Sunday. They found the young man, who was being looked after by neighbours, fully conscious and lying on the ground outside.

He was taken to Maidstone hospital by ambulance before being transferred to the burns unit of Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex. His injuries were described as serious but not life-threatening.

A small fire inside the flat followed the explosion and several neighbours were evacuated from their homes as a precaution. Police investigating the explosion are keen to talk to the owner of a red Ford Orion seen in the area at the time and have asked witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information should call Det Supt Ian Rogerson on 01622 608182.