TWO women had a lucky escape when a beach hut exploded next to the one they were sleeping in.

The pair - believed to be from Bath - fled from the beach hut at Portland Bill last night.

Firefighters treated one of the women for smoke inhalation and shock.

Two crews from Portland Fire Station spent more than an hour extinguishing the blaze, which was fuelled by Calor gas cylinders stored inside the hut.

The wooden building was completely burnt out and the huts on either side - including the one in which the women were sleeping - were also damaged by the fire.

Residents said they heard a loud bang at 10.30pm and saw flames bursting from the hut. Owner Barry Sellen arrived at the scene as firefighters were tackling the fire and said the two women were to stay at his home for the night.

He said: "I stored a fridge and gas bottles in there. I don't know how it could have started. I only know the women because they have the neighbouring hut. I think they are from Bath."

A group of people who live nearby gathered around the burning beach hut and some of them comforted the two women.

One resident said he was about to go to sleep when he heard the explosion. He added: "There was a loud bang and it shook the windows. I thought the television must have blown up. Then I saw the flames coming from the hut, they were high."

Another resident likened the sound of the explosion to 'a car hitting a wall'.

Nigel Shearing, Dorset Fire Service's corporate planning officer, said: "Two crews from Portland were called to an explosion and fire at a beach hut.

"The hut was well alight when they arrived. They extinguished the fire and made the scene safe.

"It seems there were two women in the beach hut next door who were woken up by the bang. One of them was treated for slight smoke inhalation and shock.

"There were no serious injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation."