A man who caused a huge explosion after turning his girlfriend's flat into a drug lab has been jailed for more than six years.

A bid by Scott Peden to make a super-strength form of cannabis called "shatter" turned catastrophic in March this year.

He wrecked the tenement in Tollcross leaving a £1m repair bill and eight people injured.

Neighbours were rescued from the blaze, with medics initially fearing two residents would not survive.

Peden sparked the chaos two weeks after being given bail while awaiting trial for a cannabis offence.

The 30-year-old returned to the dock after earlier pleading guilty to culpable and reckless conduct and a charge of producing a controlled drug.

Lord Armstrong said on Friday he had shown "gross irresponsibility" and his actions had "traumatic and devastating consequences".

The judge jailed him for a total of six years and four months.

Peden looked ashen-faced as he was led handcuffed to the cells.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how he set-up a sophisticated "shatter lab" at the ground floor flat.

Prosecutor Iain McSporran said this involved using "laboratory grade equipment" such as tubes, butane gas and a specialist "vacuum oven".

Peden was attempting to produce "shatter". It is the street name for Butane Honey Oil, which is a concentrated form of cannabis.

On March 21, a dangerous gas released during the drug-making became ignited, causing a huge bang.

Windows and the front door were instantly blown off due to the force of the blast.

As the fire quickly spread, Peden and two friends got out and fled. Neighbours also tried to escape.

Alexander Elder climbed out of his second-floor window, ending up badly hurt.

Ewa Uscitowicz and Robert Andrezjewski were knocked unconscious as thick smoke engulfed the building.

Firefighters arrived following a flood of 999 calls and eventually rescued those still trapped. It took around two hours to extinguish the flames.

A total of eight residents needed hospital treatment including for burns, smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. It was initially feared Mr Andrezjewski and Ms Uscitowicz may die.

Mr Elder meantime suffered multiple broken bones from his fall. A cat and a dog were also killed.

The court heard Peden's two friends were also badly burned.

Peden could not initially be traced after he fled and it was only on March 31 that he handed himself into police.

He admitted being in the kitchen at the time of the blast but said it was an "accident".

Peden, who also had minor burns, added his girlfriend had not been at the flat for around two months.

Describing Peden's actions, Mr McSporran told the court: "Whether crude or sophisticated, this case illustrates the manifest danger created by such operations."

The advocate depute said the "ignition" for the the explosion could have been as simple as a light being turned on.

The hearing was told the bill for the damage could exceed £1m including the cost of rehousing residents.

Tony Graham, defending, said Peden realised what happened had "a significant impact" on other residents.