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A gas blast has destroyed part of a bungalow in the village of Mynydd-y-Garreg in Carmarthenshire and damaged 12 other properties.

The emergency services were called in to deal with the debris while shaken residents sheltered in the community hall.

Happily, no-one was injured, as homeowner Norma Dalziel was out of the house in the utility room.

"As soon as she was back in the main house the whole lot went up with a terrific bang," her husband John told BBC News.

"I am amazed she got out of it at all."

The blast was seemingly caused by a gas leak, although investigators will look into the incident further.

Just weeks after a freak tornado hit west London, the blast comes as a timely reminder that homes are never fully secure.

Many insurers are warning homeowners to guard against well-documented seasonal risks such as fire hazards from candles, fires and fairly lights, and increased rates of burglary prompted by long, dark evenings and empty houses.

But today's blast is a reminder that homeowners are best advised to expect the unexpected – and get home insurance to protect themselves.

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