A man knocked unconscious by a ferocious gas blast which blew his home to ruins managed to signal to firefighters as he lay underneath the rubble.

The 48-year-old, who miraculously escaped with minor burns, waved to fire crews who arrived to a scene of devastation following the explosion at 5am yesterday morning in Duke Place, Laindon.

The mysterious explosion tore through his top floor flat, ripping off the roof and walls.

The blast also flung debris over 50 metres, smashing into neighbouring homes and denting cars. One neighbour thought a plane had crashed with debris falling like "rockets" on her roof.

Another described it as being like a "war zone."

* Pictures and reaction in today's Echo