A GAS explosion at a school left a roofer in hospital with serious burns.

Staff from Motherwell-based Ranley Contracts Ltd were working on the roof of Cardinal Newman High School in Bellshill at the weekend when the early morning explosion happened.

It is understood that gas canisters were being stored in an enclosed metal container.

When one of the workers, a 40-year-old man, lit a flame, one of the canisters ignited.

He was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary suffering from non-life-threatening burns.

Firefighters put out the fire and doused the remaining cylinders with water to prevent any further explosion.

Residents living near the school reported being told to stay indoors in the wake of the incident.

There was no serious damage to school, which opened as normal yesterday.

A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "A joint investigation is now underway by us and Police Scotland."

No-one from Ranley Contracts Ltd was available for comment.

The Health and Safety Executive is also making enquiries.