Man charged with arson after home explosion

A man has been charged with an arson offence after an explosion and fire which destroyed a home in rural Lancashire.

The blaze at the bungalow on Carr Lane in Hambleton broke out at about 09:55 GMT on Friday, followed by what neighbours described as a "loud bang".

Darren Davies, 54, of Carr Lane, has been charged with causing arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, Lancashire Police said.

He is due to appear before Lancaster Magistrates' Court on Monday, the force added.

The single-storey property was levelled in the blast, which neighbour Jeffrey Harrison-Turner said "sounded like two large vehicles had crashed into each other".

Firefighters picked through the debris in at the property, which Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said had been "fully engulfed in flames".

On Friday the fire service said it was believed there were "some gas cylinders" at the home which may have caused the explosion.

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