A father says his family are lucky to be alive after a glass extractor hood exploded in their kitchen.

Jeremy Spindlow, of Invicta Road near Whitstable Community College, hopes the freak explosion will just be a one-off incident but is angry that the manufacturer is refusing to accept responsibility.

The cause of the incident, which showered all of the kitchen, is unknown.

“We are extremely lucky to have not been hurt or killed as it was a disastrous incident,” Mr Spindlow said.

“The curved glass to our hob extractor, which was not being used at the time, exploded showering the whole kitchen and utility in glass.

“Our granite work top and a solid oak floor were dented – so there was some big power behind it.”

The 66-year-old, who helped fit the appliance when he was director of construction when the houses were being built, says it is luck that his wife Pam was not hurt.

“Usually, my wife is cooking dinner at around 6.30pm but by pure chance we were planning on going out for a meal that evening,” he said.

“If we weren’t then it would have probably been a different story.

"We are extremely lucky to have not been hurt or killed as it was a disastrous incident" - Jeremy Spindlow

“I called up Hotpoint and told them of the incident.

“Originally, they were not going to come out but a technician did eventually come round to survey it.

“The cause, however, is still not identified.”

Despite not taking responsibility for the incident, Hotpoint have agreed to replace and fit a new extractor hood free of charge.

Mr Spindlow says his wife Pam is now sceptical about having a new one but is pleased it will not cost them.

He said: “Now we are a bit wary of it. I know there are nine other glass tops in this development so they too have the potential to explode and I think that Hotpoint have a duty of care to respond without cost as other people could get seriously hurt if another one explodes.

“I have told the neighbours to check the screws on their extractors but you can’t prepare for an unexpected explosion.”