NOTHING has been done to demolish or cover a Poole home badly damaged in an explosion more than a month ago.

Parts of the property in Sterte Road were reduced to rubble in a suspected gas explosion on October 22. Although the address has been fenced off, it has not been torn down or covered with tarpaulin.

The roof of the home, which caved in during the incident, appears to have been further damaged since the blast.

However, officials from Poole council say there is no risk to members of the public, despite forecast high winds and rain this week.

Bruce Carmichael, the authority's building consultancy team leader, said: "In the aftermath of the explosion, we attended the property to analyse the risk and make the debris safe to local residents and traffic using the road and the pavement.

"We have erected barriers around the property and continue to visit the house on a regular basis to check for movement.

"We are satisfied that the house is safe as it stands and will continue to monitor the property.

"It is now in the hands of the insurance company and their loss adjustors.”

Signs on wire fences surrounding the property state that costs must be borne by the homeowner.

Lorna Rood, who lives opposite the destroyed house, said there had been no activity on the site since the week after the explosion.

"The week after it happened there was a cherry picker here, which pulled a little bit of the roof down. I haven't seen anything else happen since.

"Nothing's affected us so far, but with windy weather it could prove a bit of a worry.

"I've only seen the neighbours who had to leave their properties a few times since it happened. Some are staying in a B&B and others are with relatives," she added.

A 66-year-old man was airlifted to hospital for treatment following the explosion. The casualty, who remains in a critical condition, has been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage with intent to endanger life.

A woman in her 60s was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The property had been divided into two flats. According to reports, a former couple lived in each of the apartments.

A spokesperson from Dorset Police said there are no concerns about the loss of forensic evidence as a result of the site being left open to the elements.

"The investigation remains ongoing," he said.

"The injured man is in a critical condition in hospital.

"We have conducted a forensic examination of the site. When the cordon was lifted, the examination was complete."