A GRAN died in a gas blast that ripped through her home after rats gnawed through pipes, an inquest heard.
The rodents chewed a hole in a pipe leading to the hob and oven, causing gas to leak.
A spark triggered a huge explosion that killed Moira Dickson, 80, and severely injured her partner Joe Cairns, 65.
The pipes at the house in North Shields, North Tyneside, were lead that had softened over the years, allowing the rats to chew through them.
Mrs Dickson and Mr Cairns had both complained of headaches in the months leading up to the blast in May last year.
Mr Cairns went downstairs around 7.30am to put the kettle on while Mrs Dickson stayed in bed. He was hurled into the street as the explosion destroyed the house.
Mrs Dickson died after being buried under tons of masonry and Mr Cairns was left fighting for his life after suffering burns and multiple injuries.
Dozens of families were evacuated from the area and four other people had minor injuries.
A Health and Safety Executive investigation found a hole in the gas pipe in the kitchen. HSE inspector Michael Bowen said: “We found a hole in the pipe which fed the hob and the oven.
“We were then left with the question, what had caused the hole in the pipe in the kitchen?
“It was quite a significant size. After comparing the damage with that shown in photos from the Natural History Museum, it was thought that the most likely cause was rodent damage.
“It’s very difficult to say how long it would have taken to cause the damage. I have investigated a lot of explosions but never come across this before.”
After the inquest Mr Cairns said: “That’s all it was really, an accident.”
Source: Thesun.co.uk
