Portsmouth: Two people seriously injured in house explosion

Two people have been seriously injured in an explosion and fire at a terraced house.

Emergency services were called to Nelson Avenue, Portsmouth, shortly before 14:00 BST, amid reports of an "almighty bang" as the house "exploded outwards".

A man and a woman have been taken to hospital suffering from burns.

More than 30 firefighters have tackled the blaze, which sent a large plume of smoke across the area.

The rear of the property has been blackened by fire damage.

The explosion blew out windows and caused a large fire

Katie Lobban, from gas distribution company SGN, said it had "received a request to assist the emergency services" following the reports of the explosion.

She added: "Our engineers are currently assisting the emergency services to ensure the immediate vicinity is made safe in our role as the gas emergency service."

Resident Tom Cowlishaw, who arrived on scene after the explosion, said his wife heard an "almighty bang".

He said he had not been allowed to return to his home, two doors away from the damaged house.

Resident Amanda Marshall said: "I just got a message saying, 'One of the houses has exploded, the police won't let me get your dog out, come home'. So I did.

"They told me it was a gas explosion."

Police, fire and ambulance workers were on the scene

Another neighbour, who did not give their name, watched as the house exploded.

They said: "I was stood [sic] out in the front forecourt just trying to get reception on my phone and as I turned saw the front of the house just explode outwards.

"It was like something out of a film. The windows exploded outwards and a tree took a lot of the impact I think.

"Then I started to see a lot of black smoke and dialled 999. Helicopters were flying overhead and there was so much smoke I couldn't see the street.

"It was a bit unnerving. I could smell that acrid smell like a bonfire, it was quite shocking and a very, very loud bang. Some people have said they felt a rumble underfoot."

Paul Haley, from South Central Ambulance Service, said the injured people were taken to hospital and were "stable but with burns to their limbs".

They were out of the property when the ambulance arrived, he added.

Firefighters used an aerial ladder to tackle the blaze

At the scene

By Emily Ford, BBC South News

Residents have told me the roof and front of the house are now "completely gone".

They are gathered around the entrance to Nelson Avenue wondering when they will be allowed back in their homes.

Those who live either side of the damaged house have been told by police they can't get in tonight because it's not safe to walk into the buildings.

Despite the shock there's a great sense of community, with people offering rooms to those affected, and teachers from Stamshaw Infant School opening the doors for anyone impacted by the explosion.

Families are waiting in the school hall for more news with their tea and biscuits, and even pizzas have been ordered.

Children are huddled together watching movies on the projector, and the dogs rescued from their homes are keeping spirits up.

Fire officer Paul Reddish said the cause of the explosion was unknown.

He said: "There has been extensive damage. Windows at the front have been blown out and there's also been collapse of the wall at the rear of the property."

The officer said immediate neighbours would not be allowed home overnight while their properties were checked for structural damage.

He said the fire had not spread to adjoining buildings and had been extinguished.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service previously advised residents to close windows while smoke was in the air.