A MAN from Chepstow is receiving specialist treatment at Morriston Hospital in Swansea after he was seriously injured in an explosion and fire in the town yesterday evening.

The explosion, on Lower Church Street, happened at around 6.30pm last night with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Gwent Police, and the Wales Air Ambulance attending.

Witnesses described hearing a loud bang and of finding glass and other debris strewn across the street.

One neighbour was in their back garden at the time and was showered with debris.

Initial reports to the emergency services referred to a possible gas explosion, and neighbouring homes were evacuated and roads closed.

The cause is still being investigate this morning, but Richie Jones, Wales & West Utilities gas emergency service manager for Chepstow, said "it is not thought to be related to the mains gas network".

“We were called to reports of an explosion at a property in the Lower Church Street area of Chepstow yesterday evening and immediately sent a team of engineers to the scene," he said.

“On arrival we found that the property had been damaged and emergency services were in control of the scene.

“We worked with the emergency services to make the area safe and have now left the area."

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A Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of a gas explosion in the Chepstow area yesterday, Monday 21 September, at 6.28pm.

"We sent our Hazardous Area Response Team, an emergency ambulance and a rapid response car. One patient was treated at scene and taken to Morriston Hospital, Swansea."

The man suffered "serious injuries" but no one else was injured.

Gwent Police and South Wales Fire Rescue Service have both been contacted for an update on the situation.