A 51-year-old man of Zejtun was critically injured in an explosion at Popeye`s Village in Mellieha yesterday while working on a machine that produces special fireworks effects for films, the police said.

They said the man suffered very serious injuries to his hand.

The accident happened as about 100 tourists were watching a show in another area of the village, according to Stephen Bonnici, a director of Anchor Bay Leisure, which owns the old film set built of wood down in the bay.

Mr Bonnici, who was on site at the time of the incident, said the tourists were never in any danger as the blast happened in a room close to the water which is being turned into a wine bar and to which visitors are not allowed access.

The tourists were evacuated immediately, he said.

However, Mr Bonnici was at a loss to explain the incident. He said the man, a carpenter, was evidently working on "some sort of explosive material", but he didn`t know why and the work was not connected with Popeye`s Village.

He said material of the sort was certainly not permitted to be taken into the village. "We don`t even allow anyone to smoke."

No film is being shot at Popeye`s Village, he added.

The village will re-open to visitors today, with Mr Bonnici saying the company would make sure that no more work of this nature would take place.

In a statement, the police said the fire brigade and the bomb disposal unit were called to the scene to make the place safe.

Sources said a small fire broke out but was controlled quickly and there was no structural damage.

Magistrate Abigail Lofaro appointed experts to conduct an inquiry and Inspector Paul Bond from the Qawra district is leading police investigations.