Two people have been hurt after a gas explosion left a house in ruins.
Nearby residents were evacuated from their homes after the two-storey house in Leicester collapsed.
Two people were hurt in the blast (Ben Birchall/PA)
Police said they responded to reports of a “loud bang” in Allington Drive, Birstall, at around 7.33am on Monday.
Leicestershire Fire Service said one semi-detached property had been “involved in gas explosion”.
A neighbouring property also partially collapsed and six other properties had been affected, it said, adding that no fire or smell of gas had been reported.
A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: “Investigations into the cause of the damage are in their very early stages.
“Two people are injured and are being attended to by paramedics. The nature of their injuries is not known at this time.
“A number of houses in the street have been evacuated as a precaution.”
A neighbouring property was also damaged (Ben Birchall/PA)
Carol Cooke, who lives on nearby Wanlip Lane, told the Press Association she was woken by an “almighty bang” at about 7.30 am.
She said: “I thought something had happened in the house, then we just heard lots of sirens and saw emergency services going up our street.”
Ms Cooke, 46, added: “Hearing the bang was not nice, it was very scary. It’s very shocking news, we are praying for the families involved.”
Neighbours said the noise woke them around 7.30am (Ben Birchall/PA)
Sarah Carr, of Halfpenny Close, about a mile from Allington Drive, added: “I thought it was a car crash, the whole house and doors shook.
“It sounded really loud, like it was right outside my house. I then saw the air ambulance and police helicopter.”
Charnwood Borough Council said: “We’re aware of the incident in Birstall and supporting the emergency services.
“We will be ensuring residents’ welfare is looked after and have officers on the scene, including from our building control team.”