Residents have described the panic that followed a gas explosion which blew out windows at a block of flats.

Shattered glass sprayed into High Road, Woodford Green, following the blast at 4.30pm on Saturday.

A man in his 20s, who is believed to have just lit a cigarette inside the flat in Birch Court when the explosion happened, was treated for burns to his hands and arms.

A total of 16 people were evacuated from the block and took shelter in the Cricketers pub next door for several hours.

Kurosh Kadir, 23, whose flat is directly above where the explosion happened, said: "I thought it was Judgement Day and life as we know it was about to end. 

"Everything was shaking. I looked outside and the windows were in the street. 

Carl Shore, 38, lives on the first floor and his baby niece and nephew were visiting when the explosion happened.

He said the injured man was "unbelievably lucky to be alive". 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed they are investigating the cause of the explosion. 

For more on this story, see this week's Guardian - out Thursday