A Margate man has been charged with manslaughter after the death of a Ramsgate teenager in a gas blast.

Steve Adams, 42, of Fitzmary Avenue is due to appear at Folkestone Magistrates Court after 18-year-old Jarrad Swan died in a gas cylinder explosion in June last year.

The director of Adams Gas was at the scene in Bath Road, Margate, and has been bailed to appear at Folkestone Magistrates Court on February 26.

Around 20 firefighters were called to the gas yard when the blaze broke out at approximately 3.30pm on June 24.

At the time Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it took around two hours to bring the blaze under control.

The Kent air ambulance said Mr Swan had suffered severe burns and died at the scene.

His mother and sister were believed to have arrived soon after the disaster.

Nearby resident Lynn Wright, who lives in Dane Road, was on her way home as she passed the scene.

She said: “I saw the activity and the fire engines and the crowd and spoke to people on the pavement who told me that there had been an explosion and some people might be injured.

“Then a policeman came over and spoke to a young girl in the crowd and took her aside and the next minute she ran back into the road.

“When I asked if she was alright, she said ‘No I’m not, it was my brother that was killed’.

“Then the mother arrived and the poor woman just collapsed. I said that I was sorry for her loss and she said thank you.”