Elderly man stunned as huge van fire erupts on his drive

An elderly man was stunned when a workman’s van blew up on his drive while he was having a cup of tea.

Seventy-nine-year-old Derek Willis had invited workers to his home at Pen y Mynydd in Bettws, Bridgend, on Friday morning, January 21, to carry out loft insulation work.

But the two men were in his house for minutes before their van blew up outside.

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Ceri Auld, Derek's stepdaughter, says the fire wrecked the van, a farmer's fence, and another car (Public handout)

The van was still on his drive on Friday night (Public handout)

Recalling the surreal moment, Derek’s stepdaughter Ceri Auld said: “He was standing there at the front window having a cup of tea and the boys were up in the loft. He said ‘boys, I think your van is on fire’.

“It turns out a machine in the van had caught fire and the next thing the whole thing has gone up.

“It blew up the car in front and the farmer's fence next-door. The van is still there now. His drive is all melted and the back end of his car is melted. But he is okay, it’s a lucky escape really.”

The fire service confirmed officers attended the incident at 10.37am on Friday morning and quickly extinguished the fire.