A MAN seriously injured in an explosion at a garage in Hamsey Green was a customer waiting for his car to be fixed.
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 of the service centre.
He was treated by paramedics after suffering 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.
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.
