A FORMER bomb disposal expert has been charged with attempted murder after his pregnant wife was seriously injured in a car explosion.

Victoria Fabian was rushed to hospital with "horrendous" leg wounds at lunchtime on Friday (March 5) after the incident near the couple's home in Vigo.

Her husband, Nicholas, who works at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home near Brands Hatch, appeared before Dartford Magistrates on Tuesday morning (March 9).

Charged with two counts of attempted murder and one of possessing firearms, he stood motionless in the dock to give his name, date of birth and address.

The couple's normally quiet village was thrown into the national spotlight after residents heard a loud explosion and saw smoke billowing from the High View area.

Witnesses reported seeing horrific injuries to Mrs Fabian's legs after the car blew up in a communal car park.

Miraculously neither her unborn child or her eight-year-old son, believed to be in the car when it blew up, were seriously hurt.

Andrew Hatton, of Fern Down, said: "I heard the bang and saw the smoke and decided to make my way to the scene to see if there was anything I could do.

"Someone had helped the woman out of the car and she was lying on the ground when the air ambulance turned up. Her legs looked horrendous."

The 18-year-old, who is applying to be a special constable, said: "Her husband had broken down beside her and he was covered in blood. It was horrible."

Forty householders were evacuated after the incident. Most were allowed home later that evening after bomb disposal teams gave the all-clear. Some were not able to return until the following morning.

Suzanne Ramsay was at home feeding her eight-month-old daughter Sara when she heard the explosion.

She said: "Normally I would feed her in the front room but for some reason I was in the kitchen when the explosion went off, which is probably quite lucky.

"Afterwards I heard a knock on the door. It was a police officer asking me to leave the house and wait at the end of the road, where everyone was congregating."

In a statement, Mrs Fabian's family said: "We are deeply saddened and shocked by Friday's incident and the sequence of events as they unfold.

"At the moment all our energy and attention is focussed on supporting Vicky and her children.

"Vicky is in the best place and has started her long road to recovery."

BLOB: Nicholas Fabian will appear before Maidstone Crown Court on March 22.