A MAN who watched in disbelief as a house in Kempsey exploded, killing its elderly owner, has described how he broke into the neighbouring property to rescue a dog.

Gary Russell, a builder from St John's, was doing some plastering work in a nearby factory when he saw flames and smoke billowing from the house on the corner of Hetherington Close and Chapel Road.

"We all watched as the house exploded - it was surreal," the 23-year-old said.

"I then noticed that smoke was also coming from next door.

"The owner wasn't there so I went in through the kitchen to rescue the dog inside. When I got in, smoke was coming down the stairs from a fire in the attic space.

"But, thankfully, I got the dog to safety and left it with another neighbour."

The Worcester News reported on saturday how four fire engines, ambulances and more than a dozen police attended the scene shortly after 1.15pm on Friday.