A young child has died and four adults are injured after a middle of the night gas explosion destroyed two houses.
Emergency services were called to the homes in Heysham, Lancashire, at around 2.30am on Sunday.
Local residents were woken by the sound of a blast and pictures from the scene show two homes completely destroyed.
A number of locals have been evacuated from their homes while emergency services deal with the incident.
Lancashire Fire, which sent 10 engines to the scene, said firefighters were searching the collapsed properties, while police have set up a cordon in the area.
A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "We remain at the scene of a suspected gas explosion on Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham.
"We were called at 2.40am this morning to reports that a number of houses on the road had collapsed.
"Our officers attended and found two houses collapsed and serious damage to a third property.
"We can now confirm that sadly a young child has died as a result of the incident. The family have been informed and our thoughts remain with them at this distressing time.
"Another four people, two men and two women have been taken to hospital. Two of those people have serious injuries."
The force said a search of the site is ongoing and that officers are currently working with gas service engineers to make the area safe.
