NEIGHBOURS described the “devastating” explosion that demolished a property in Poole as “like a bomb had gone off”.

The two flats in Sterte Road were ripped apart by the incident yesterday afternoon.

A prominent hole was left where the first floor of the premises used to be, while brickwork and various other debris was strewn across the pavement, road and driveways.

Emergency services responded swiftly to calls and a cordon was put in place in Sterte Road.

People gathered at both ends of the cordon and said they were shocked to see the severity of the damage that had been caused.

One resident of Sterte Road, who lives close to the house where the explosion took place, said: “I was doing a bit of DIY at the time and then there was just an almighty bang.

“At first I thought it had taken place in my house. Part of the ceiling in my house came down as well.

“I went outside and saw the top floor of my neighbours’ flat had gone.

“It was just chaos. It was like a bomb had gone off. The resident in the ground floor came out with help from the firefighters.”

Engineers from SGN were also in attendance and remained at the scene for most of the day.

The resident added: “The emergency services were there within 10 minutes after people had made calls.

“Considering what they were dealing with and going into they did an incredible job.

“The damage is so extensive. My car was hit by some of the debris.”

A neighbour, who lives in the house next to where the explosion was, said his son was in their home at the time.

“It was such a devastating explosion,” they said.

“My son was in the adjacent room to where the explosion took place.

“He was hit by objects falling from the ceiling and coming off the wall, like brickwork and plaster.

“The wall was badly damaged and the same happened all along it downstairs. It was just a huge bang, like a bomb had gone off. He told me the whole place was shaking.

“When he came outside all of the top floor next door had completely gone.”