A man injured after a huge gas explosion tore apart a house in Gorton remains in a serious condition in hospital.

The 38-year-old man was pulled to safety by neighbours following the gas blast at a house on Abbey Hey Lane on Monday morning.

Rescuers said he was left suffering face and hand injuries.

Greater Manchester Police described the man’s condition as “serious”, but said he is now stable.

Their investigation into what caused the explosion is ongoing.

The blast destroyed much of the rear of the property

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A joint probe between the fire service, forensics, the National Grid and the Health and Safety Executive was expected to continue until Thursday.

Firefighters said they were starting their investigation in the rear lounge and stairway of the house.

Abbey Hey Lane is closed in both directions between Lees Street and Marchioness Street.

It is believed the closures are likely to remain in place for some time.

There is still a cordon around the terrace where the house exploded.

Nearby resident Michael Maunsell, 30, described the moment he helped pull the injured man to safety away from rubble surrounding the devastated property.

The explosion triggered a large emergency response

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He told the M.E.N: “We heard a big explosion and ran outside. Everyone was out in the street. I could see over the wall where the explosion happened. We could see a guy trying to clamber over the rubble.

“I jumped over the wall, I kicked the back door down. He kept screaming he couldn’t see anything. I managed to bring him out in the front.

“He managed to clamber out of his kitchen. The whole back of the house had come away.”

Paul Etches, group manager for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We’ve agreed a course of action to begin carrying out a detailed investigation within the building.

“That requires specialist rescue teams making the safe and preventing any further collapse.”