POLICE believe the man killed when his van exploded in Wolsingham, County Durham, earlier today was a welder on his way to work.

Although he has not been officially identified police believe he was a married man, aged 33 and from Wolsingham.

However because of the circumstances of his death it "may be some time before a formal identification can be made,"a police spokesman said.

The spokesman for Durham Police said: "He is believed to have lived in the village and worked as a welder at an industrial estate on the outskirts of Durham City.

"He had set off for work from home just minutes before the vehicle went up in flames apparently after a gas cylinder in the vehicle ignited.

"The centre of the village will remain cordoned off overnight and into breakfast time on Sunday as a remaining gas cylinder from van has to be cooled down for a period of not less than 24 hours."

The spokesman said that once the fire service said it was safe to do so the cylinder and debris from the incident would then have to be removed.

However he added that at this stage there was no reason to believe that any sort of foul play was behind the incident.

Helplines have been set up for residents and also for anyone who witnessed the accident or recorded footage to contact police.

They are 01325-742549 and 01325 742565.

The incident happened in the market square just before 7am.