THIEVES turned a new Newport home into a potential death trap after ripping out pipes while stealing a gas fire, leaving it filling overnight with gas.

Police said "only luck" prevented their actions from having possible tragic consequences. The incident occurred overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday this week, at a unoccupied house on the newly built Wilcon estate on the site of the old Rogerstone power station.

The leak was discovered by an electrician when he arrived to start work yesterday. He alerted the site manager who called the police.

PC Eddie Evans, community liaison officer at Bettws, said: "The thieves just cut the pipe, and took the fire, leaving it to fill with gas all night. This was an extremely serious incident, which could have been much worse.

"If the electrician had not smelt the gas, and just started working, or someone had been smoking a cigarette nearby, who knows what might have happened. The houses nearby have people living in them. It was just very lucky we were not called to attend a far more serious incident."

The stolen gas fire is a Valor Ultimate 540 model with the serial number 544836, and is worth around £700.

PC Evans said: "If anyone has any information I would urge them to contact us at Bettws police station on 01633 245210."