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Explosion victim mum found belongings in a skip

BBC Grace Porter holding stuffed animal toys outside the blast damaged home. She has long, straight brown hair and is wearing a black puffer jacket. One of the houses behind her has its roof and upper floor blown off. The site is fenced-off. BBC
Grace Porter managed to save some of her children's toys

A mum-of-two who found out her explosion-damaged house was going to be demolished just hours before works were set to start says her family's belongings were cleared into a skip without her knowledge.

Grace Porter's home, on Coronation Terrace in Willington, County Durham, was damaged in an explosion at her next door neighbour's property on 24 June last year.

The family were due to move on the same day and were not at the property at the time of the blast, but all their belongings were still inside.

Ms Porter had not been allowed to return to the home and only found out about the demolition after contacting her landlord, Homes or Houses, for an update on Wednesday afternoon.

She was also told she could not go to the home to collect her possessions, with works set to start the following day.

Handout Grace Porter staring at her family's belongings thrown in a skip, including a drawer with toys and notebooks. A man in work clothing stands in the skip.Handout
Ms Porter found her belongings in a skip

A man was left in a critical condition and a dog was killed in the explosion last June.

Nearby residents were also told to leave their homes "as a precaution", but were later allowed to return.

In an email sent to Ms Porter on Wednesday, seen by the BBC, a loss assessor from Your Claim told her: "No-one is permitted to enter site. Not even the contractors."

But she said when she got to the property she saw workers emptying the house ahead of the demolition and her and her children's belongings were in a skip outside.

Homes or Houses and Your Claim have been contacted for a comment but have not responded.

Handout The upper floor of the damaged homes showing a gap where the explosion occurred. The neighbouring house has part of its roof missing. Handout
Ms Porter's neighbour's home was destroyed in the blast in the summer

"All of my property and belongings were still in that home," Ms Porter said.

"In every single room, it was our possessions and there was absolutely no consideration for that.

"I'd had no prior communication and was just not prepared for what I was met with."

Ms Porter said she was "grateful" to have managed to salvage some of her children's toys and family photographs.

"I'm just saddened that I had to go through this nightmare and I've had to witness this," she said.

"My children's belongings hanging out of a skip. It's just heartbreaking.

"I am just trying to stay strong and get through what is a prolonged nightmare and hope that finally we might be able to close this chapter."

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