Heysham explosion: Child dies and four adults injured in Lancashire blast

A two-year-old boy has died and four adults have been injured in a suspected gas explosion in Heysham, Lancashire.

Firefighters, police and ambulances were called to Mallowdale Avenue in the town in the early hours of Sunday.

Two houses had collapsed and a third property was seriously damaged, Lancashire Police said.

George Arthur Hinds was described by his parents, Vicky Studholme and Stephen Hinds, as their "beautiful little angel."

George's parents said the two-year-old was "so precious to us"

Ms Studholme and Mr Hinds were also injured in the blast, which happened at 02:40 BST.

Another man and woman remain in hospital in critical condition, Lancashire Police said.

In a tribute the parents said: "We are devastated at the loss of our beautiful George.

"He was so precious to us. We have no words to describe how we feel and just want time to ourselves to come to terms with what has happened.

"Our beautiful little angel grew his wings today."

Two houses have collapsed and others have been badly damaged

Assistant chief constable Jo Edwards said at a press conference at the scene earlier that the search and rescue operation was still ongoing but "we believe we have got everybody out".

Lancashire Fire said a major incident was declared after it was reported that there had been an explosion at a property on Mallowdale Avenue.

About 30-40 people were evacuated from their homes. Most went to stay with friends and family but the Salt Ayre Leisure Centre is welcoming anyone needing support.

Police are using specially-trained dogs to search through the rubble

Lancaster City Council leader Erica Lewis said councils would give housing support to those affected and a helpline has been opened.

She said it was important to understand how the incident happened and let the investigation run its course.

One neighbour said the explosion "sounded like a bomb going off".

She said: "It literally shook the whole bed. We felt like we were going through the floor.

Firefighters and ambulances were sent to the scene in the early hours

"We jumped out of bed and we just ran to see what was going on. It's just awful."

Susan Faulkner, 74, who lives further down the avenue, said she was still shaken by the incident.

"I woke up with this huge bang and I thought someone was breaking into my house... I'm still quite shaken by it. I've never experienced that before."

Neighbours said the explosion "sounded like a bomb going off"

Ms Faulkner said that her own property and others close by had been damaged.

"It was quite a blast," she said. "I live quite a way down there and part of my side door was blown in and my next door neighbour's plates were smashed," she said.

"I've been very lucky. When I see what those poor souls have had happen to them, it's devastating. I'm really sad for those people. It's such a sad thing to happen to them."

Cars and houses were damaged by bricks and debris from the blast

Dan Knowles, who lives four streets away from the explosion, said he thought there had been an earthquake.

"We immediately checked on our kids and got back in bed. We then heard sirens and my wife checked Facebook.

"We stayed indoors and switched everything off at the source and then sat up all night worrying."

Another neighbour said he had been helping out "making brews" since being woken by the blast.

Matt House, from North West Ambulance Service, said he had not seen an explosion like this in the UK during his 20 years of service.

Police advised people to stay away from the area

Ben Norman, assistant chief fire officer, said there would be "untold" impact on fire officers working at the scene.

He said at its peak, 80 fire officers were at the scene with two engines pulled in from Cumbria and emergency service workers "took great risks".

He added: "Some of those are staff that respond from home or a workplace. They're on-call firefighters so they go back into this community.

"They live within it, they work within it, their families are within it."

Local MP David Morris, who represents Morecambe and Lunesdale, thanked the emergency services on Twitter and said: "My thoughts and prayers are with all of the families on Mallowdale Avenue".

Police said they were working with gas service engineers to make the area safe and they advised people to stay away.

Electricity North West, which supplies electricity across the north west of England, said on Twitter that engineers were removing supplies for safety.

The company could not confirm how many properties would be affected, or for how long.

Heather Brandwood, who runs the Hurley Flyer pub in nearby Morecambe, said she had asked people to donate clothing and toiletries for evacuated residents.

Helpers are sorting through donations at the Hurley Flyer pub

She said people had been queuing in the car park to help.

"We are very conscious that people were evacuated from their homes with immediate effect," she said.

"We have heard from an elderly couple who left in their pyjamas. There is a woman who is in literally nothing but her nightie."

Lancaster City Council has also lowered flags at its town halls as a mark of respect.