Two boats were destroyed and another two were badly damaged in an explosion on one of them at the Ta' Xbiex marina in the small hours of yesterday morning, police said.

Eyewitnesses said a huge explosion sent the upper part of one of the boats some 10 metres into the air and there was a huge ball of fire.

The police said the boat that exploded was the Lady Tess and that three other boats flanking it caught fire.

Other boats were removed with difficulty because of the flames.

No one was injured.

The eyewitnesses said the explosion was so big that "it sounded like an earthquake" and the heat caused by the flames was so intense that the glass panes of houses across the road were too hot to touch.

Other eyewitnesses said they heard a small explosion immediately followed by a larger one.

Firemen fought the flames for about an hour and a second fire engine was called to assist, but the flames were too much to control and two of the boats sank.

The police are investigating.