HEALTH and safety investigators are probing a gas explosion at a scrapyard in which two men were injured.

Russell Carr was last night comfortable in Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary's special burns unit, after the fire at Hanratty's scrapyard in Back Lodge, Hendon, Wearside.

Mr Carr, of Hendon, suffered burns to his face and neck when machinery blew up at about 9.40am on Wednesday.

Another worker, Wayne Smith, of Stockton Terrace, discharged himself from Sunderland Royal Hospital after treatment.

The fire, believed to have started when workers accidentally put a flammable cylinder through a crushing machine, sparked several fires