A MAN has been taken to hospital after suffering burns in an explosion at a car workshop in Hamsey Green.
The blast at Ken's Auto's in Limpsfield Road, on the Sanderstead/Warlingham border, shook nearby homes and ignited a fire at the back of the garage.
It is understood the injured man, 28, was a customer waiting for his car to be fixed.
He was treated by paramedics for 25 per cent burns to his face and arms before being taken to the major trauma centre at St George's Hospital, in Tooting, as a "priority", London Ambulance Service said.
Six fire engines and 35 firefighters from Croydon, Purley and Addington, as well as the air ambulance, were sent to the scene following the explosion at around 11.15am this morning (Wednesday).
Witnesses reported hearing several other smaller explosions before an armed police unit, stationed nearby, helped evacuate nearby businesses and establish a cordon.
The blaze was brought under control at 1pm and the cause is now under investigation.
Witness John Osborne said the explosion shook his house in nearby Martin Close.
He said: "I heard a large bang and the windows rattled. I ran out of the house and saw smoke billowing from the garage.
"A couple of minutes later there were several secondary explosions. Then the police arrived and started pushing everyone back."
Witnesses at a nearby gym described hearing a sound like a large weight being dropped and then seeing garage workers running for cover.
London Fire Brigade said around half of the service centre was alight, including two cars and part of the roof.
Ambulance crews also treated one man for smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.
Limpsfield Road was closed around the garage while fire crews dealt with the incident.
It is the second time there has been a serious fire at this branch of Ken's Autos in the last six months.
The blaze in January destroyed a car and damaged part of the garage but no one was hurt.
