An inquest into Mr Herd's death was opened on Wednesday

The money will be donated to the widow of welder Andy Herd, 33, who died when his van exploded in Wolsingham.

It was revealed on Wednesday that his wife Jennifer is expecting the couple's first child.

Wolsingham Parish Council said the fund would also be shared between families whose homes were damaged by the blast.

Wear Valley District Council has made the first contribution by pledging �1,000.

Mr Herd, of Mill Race, Wolsingham, near Bishop Auckland, was killed when his when gas from cylinders in the back of his works van ignited in Wolsingham market square.

The explosion happened shortly after Mr Herd stopped at a shop on the town's Front Street.

Wreckage was strewn across the centre of the town

It is understood the vehicle was moving at the time of the blast.

No-one else was hurt in the blast but the explosion caused widespread damage to both residential and commercial properties around the market place.

Some of the wreckage from the van landed 200 yards away in a local church and other fragments blew out a shop window.

Residents living near the square began returning to their homes on Tuesday.

Durham Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are trying to establish exactly what caused the oxy-acetylene cylinders to ignite.

An inquest into Mr Herd's death was opened and adjourned on Wednesday.