Daryl Findlay's teachers described him as an exemplary pupil

Eleven-year-old Daryl Findlay had won the dancing competition at his school's Christmas disco, while his sister, Stacey, aged 13, was due to sing in her school's carol service that night.

But the Findlays' Christmas turned to tragedy when a gas explosion ripped through their home at 42 Carlisle road in Larkhall, Lanarkshire.

Daryl, Stacey and their parents Andrew, 34, and Janette, 37, were all killed.

'Thirty-feet flames'

A routine police patrol had reported a smell of gas in the area but it came too late and the resulting blast - from a leak under the Findlays' home - could be heard up to four miles away.

Four neighbouring homes were badly damaged. Larkhall resident John McCauley described being woken by the blast to see 30 feet high flames shooting into the air.

The blast, caused by a leaking gas main, destroyed the house.

Neighbours began helping those affected by the explosion.

Emergency services found no injured to rescue, instead pulling the bodies of Janette Findlay and her children from the rubble.

Transco confirmed the blast appeared "consistent" with a gas explosion, its workers tried to isolate gas supplies.

However, police and firefighters had to stop their search for Andrew Findlay because of fears of a second explosion.

Local minister Reverend Jim Hastie urged Larkhall residents to "draw strength from one another".

'Exemplary pupil'

Stacey's school - Larkhall Academy - postponed the concert she had been due to participate in.

Stacey's school postponed the carol service she was due to sing in

Her headteacher described Stacey as "the sort of pupil teachers like to teach".

Meanwhile, Daryl's headteacher at Craigbank Primary said he was an exemplary pupil.

It took until the next morning to find Andrew Findlay's body, and local resident began to question Transco about the tragedy.

Archie Dunsmore, whose firm had built the Findlays' home, said the blast must have been caused "by a build-up of gas". He speculated that a central heating pilot light had ignited it.

Speculation continued amid claims that the Findlays' house had been surrounded by the smell of gas for seven years.