Summerseat house explosion: Woman dead and two people injured

An aerial photograph shows the extent of the damage to the house and neighbouring properties

A 61-year-old woman has died and two people have been injured in an explosion which caused a house to collapse.

The blast at the property in Summerseat, near Bury, happened at about 21:30 GMT on Wednesday.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the woman died at the scene.

Another woman and child were taken to hospital with minor injuries, but have been discharged. Three more people were treated at the scene by paramedics.

GMP said 30 surrounding houses were initially evacuated but all residents apart from those living on the same road as the collapsed house had been allowed back into their properties.

The force said residents were being kept away from the neighbouring houses on East View "as a precaution" and a police cordon remained in place.

Ch Insp Jamie Collins said an investigation with the fire service, Cadent Gas and local council was under way and the gas supply had been isolated.

An investigation into the cause of the blast has begun

Police said neighbouring properties had been evacuated "as a precaution"

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service watch manager Steve Wilcock said it "would not be appropriate to speculate on a probable cause".

He said crews would remain at the scene for the next couple of days and praised local residents for their "help and co-operation".

"Summerseat is a close-knit community and there has been an outpouring of support, with many neighbours offering their homes to those evacuated last night," he said.

"Given the nature of this scene, I must also praise the professionalism and dedication of the firefighters who have worked here all night in the driving rain, as well as throughout the morning."

Mr Wilcock also expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the woman who died.

At the scene

By Michelle Adamson, BBC Radio Manchester

Daybreak revealed the stark reality of the damage caused to the house.

Most of those whose homes were evacuated immediately after the collapse had been allowed back and neighbours were out early chatting to each other across garden fences, checking on each other's welfare.

Many said they had endured a sleepless and troubled night and one woman, who was briefly allowed back in to her home to collect belongings before being moved back beyond the police cordon again, emerged visibly upset and clutching an armful of clothes.

And there was still a tangible sense of shock and disbelief amongst all those living nearby, as police and firefighters, along with utility workers and gas engineers, continued to work at the scene.

A post-mortem examination to establish the woman's cause of death is due to take place later.

Ch Insp Collins said the woman had not been formally identified, but "based on this address and initial enquiries" officers believed her identity was now known.

Gavin Jones, who lives nearby, said the house had been "flattened basically".

"Seeing a house blown out is a scary situation," he said.

"A lot of people were confused, there was quite a lot of panic."

Gavin Jones said there was "quite a lot panic" in the street

A resident who lives on the street told BBC Radio Manchester she heard a "large noise".

"Everyone was out on the streets, looking quite shocked," she said.

A second neighbour said she had been told to stay in her house and "wait for further instruction".

"It was a bit of a confusing, horrible time," she said.

"My little girl was petrified [as] she thinks her house is going to explode now, so I've spent half of the night trying to calm her down."