AN ELDERLY lady suffered severe burns to her face and arms after a gas explosion at her home.

Fire crews from Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells were called to the explosion at a house on Priory Road, Tonbridge, at 8.32am today.

The blast is understood to have been caused by a build up of gas ignited after the resident attempted to boil a kettle.

Tonbridge sub officer Mark Woodward, said the explosion in the rear annex blew out the entire wall.

He said: “If it had been a stronger brick wall the blast would have been contained, potentially destroying the property.”