INVESTIGATIONS are continuing today into a massive explosion which destroyed homes in Faversham. Pensioner Elsie Howland, 86, was pulled from the rubble alive and taken to hospital.

She is still in intensive care at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital but said to be in a stable condition.

About 60 firefighters fought the blaze in Abbey Street early on Sunday morning. The explosion wrecked two houses and extensively damaged four more.

Kent Fire And Rescue Service Control Centre received a number of calls reporting a loud explosion just after 8am.

About a dozen more homes suffered minor damage and around 20 families were unable to to remain in their homes last night. Many were put up by friends and relatives.

Elsie Howland was pulled clear of the devastation shortly after the blast. She was discovered trapped under a section of the collapsed roof of her home.

At this stage fire chiefs are not saying whether it was a gas blast or not.

Greg Phillipo, who lives three doors down from the centre of the blast, told KM-fm the fire, police and ambulance staff were outstanding...