INVESTIGATIONS are continuing today into an explosion at a cottage in Thurgoland that left an elderly couple injured.

Margaret and Leonard Wilson, of Tontine Cottage, Cote Lane, suffered burns and shock after a gas leak exploded on Tuesday morning.

The couple were taken to a special burns unit at Pinderfields hospital, Wakefield, where they are said to be in a stable condition after the 6am blast left the house without a roof and windows.

A neighbour who helped the couple get out of the house after the explosion and tried to tackle the blaze was also treated for shock in Barnsley hospital.

Just hours before the explosion, a stolen car was set on fire outside the house and the fire service are now investigating a possible link between the two.

Police are also looking into the theft of the car and arson as the car was set alight so close to the property.

Mr and Mrs Wilson, both in their 60s, were asleep when joyriders set the car on fire outside their home at 4am.

Firefighters put out the car fire and checked the house over, which had smoke damage to the windows.

The couple, who had gone round to a neighbours while the house was checked, were told their home was safe and they could go back to bed.

But just over an hour after officers left at 5am they were called back to the house because of the huge explosion.

The couple escaped from the blaze and were taken back to their neighbours' house before an ambulance arrived.