Emergency services are at the scene of a gas explosion at a house in Leicester this morning.
Police, ambulance and fire crews are at an address in Allington Drive, Birstall, amid reports of a loud bang at 7.30am.
Two people are injured and are being attended to by paramedics. The nature of their injuries is not yet known. According to the BBC, one person remains unaccounted for.
Whole house gone on Allington. Awful. Just hope no one was in there?? pic.twitter.com/ANon3aMTqf
What was that bang in #leicester ?! We’re in #birstall and friends heard it in #beaumontleys .. thought it was snow falling off House but obvs not!
The gas explosion in birstall was heard by me and my dad in beaumont leys, sounded like someone punching a window
7.30 in mornin and weather outside surely not empty ? hopefully im wrong. I honestly thought my front door was bein put thru by old bill that loud on firfield. Shook house bad . Gas explosion?
December 11, 2017
Heard this as I was leaving the house this morning – I live six miles away https://t.co/BcMpakFmGy
A number of houses have been evacuated as a precaution and Allington Drive is cordoned off as the incident is investigated.
A spokesman for the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said “multiple calls” had been received about the sound of an explosion. The property has collapsed, a neighbouring property is partially-collapsed and six other houses are affected. He added: “There is no fire reported and no smell of gas at this time.”
Roy Rollings, councillor for Birstall, tweeted that the local village hall had been set up for residents needing emergency accommodation.
We are aware of a large explosion at a property in Birstall. Our first thoughts are with all those involved. @CharnwoodBC emergency plans are being put into place to help all involved.
December 11, 2017
Birstall Village Hall has been set up for all residents that need emergency accommodation. Please head there if you need shelter and warm drinks.
#Leicester. Birstall. Allington Rd closed due to prev incident, also affects side rds Dalby Ave and Keswick Close. Avoid area if poss. Inc expected ongoing for some time to come.
December 11, 2017
John Ketteringham was one of the first on the scene. He told the Leicester Mercury: “We found one old chap buried in the rubble. He had bad head lacerations and was unconscious, with a flight of stairs on top of him, but he was still breathing.
“The explosion threw bits of wood into the windows of the houses opposite, and all the cars have smashed windows.”
Sarah Carr told Capital Radio she “heard a big bang, windows and doors shook, I thought it was a car crash at first.”
One twitter user said he heard the noise which “sounded like someone punching a window” from his home in Beaumont Leys, more than two miles away. Another reported hearing it too despite living six miles away.
Quentin Woodhouse told The Sun: “My mum lives opposite. She’s 91. Her front door and windows all blew in. She was very lucky not to be hurt. She just said it was a very loud bang, no flames as such. And when she came outside it looked pretty much as it does now, with the roof blown off.”