A TWO-year-old girl and her parents were taken to hospital last night (Monday) after a wood burning stove exploded in their Newport home.

Daniel Jeavons, 28, happened to be crouching in front of the stove and shielded two-year-old Eadi-Mai from the blast, while partner Kate Howie, 27, was nearby in the kitchen at their home on Malpas Road.

Mr Jeavons’ father, Lliswerry councillor Roger Jeavons said the force of the explosion blew out the glass from the living room bay window some 40 or 50 feet away.

“Daniel was crouching down talking to the baby between the wood burner and her, so he took any blast, if there was one,” explained Cllr Jeavons, whose son is a plastering assessor.

“Perhaps we will know more later on. I am glad they are OK. They have only been in the house six months so we have no idea who put the stove in.”

Mr Jeavons, Miss Howie and baby Eadi-Mai were taken to hospital where Mr Jeavons received treatment to burns on his left leg while his partner was given oxygen.

Their baby daughter was fine, said Cllr Jeavons.

The family returned to hospital yesterday for further treatment and were described as “shocked”.

“We would like to thank the neighbours who were very good, somebody came in and rang the fire brigade,” said Cllr Jeavons.

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We were called at 7.16pm on Monday to reports of a fire at a property on Malpas Road, Newport.

“A paramedic in a rapid response car and an emergency ambulance were dispatched to the scene, and three people with minor burns were taken to Royal Gwent Hospital for a precautionary check-up.”

Malpas and Maindee fire fighters also attended the incident but upon arrival reported that there was no fire involved.