THE father-in-law of a welder who was killed after an explosion ripped through his van has spoken of the family's tragic loss.

Peter Carr said the support the family had received from the local community in the wake of Andrew Herd's death had been "marvellous".

Mr Herd, 33, died when acetylene and oxygen canisters in the back of his van blew up as he drove away from a paper shop in the market town of Wolsingham, County Durham.

The former Wolsingham Comprehensive School pupil was set to become a father for the first time by his wife, Jennifer.

In an interview with the Sunday Sun, Mr Carr said: "The whole family is devastated by what has happened, but we are all pulling together for the sake of Jennifer and her unborn child.

"It's a small community here and very close knit, and everyone has been marvellous and helped however they could."

Mr Herd, who lived in Mill Race, Wolsingham, had been on his way to his job at Ward Brothers Plant and Hire, on the outskirts of Durham City, when he was killed in the blast on the morning of May 26. His Ford Transit was left a smouldering wreck, while many properties nearby had windows shattered and doors blown in.

Residents had to be evacuated and were not allowed back into their homes until experts had declared them safe.

A fund has been set up by Wolsingham Parish Council to help those affected by the explosion.

Mr Carr said that a separate fund was now also being set up to directly help his daughter, but only after all members of the family had been consulted.

He said: "We are going to arrange for a separate fund to help Jennifer and the baby because it's going to be a very difficult time for them ahead."

An inquest into Mr Herd's death was opened and adjourned last week by a local coroner in nearby Crook. Police and the Health and Safety Executive are still investigating the cause of the fatal explosion.