This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7389131.stm

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Man dies in cottage gas explosion Man dies in suspected gas blast
(40 minutes later)
A man has been killed and two other people injured in a gas explosion which demolished two cottages in Harrow, north-west London. A man has died in a suspected gas explosion which ripped through three houses in north-west London.
It happened in Stanley Road opposite South Harrow station and reportedly shook houses for miles around. An injured man and a woman were also hurt in the blast in Stanley Road and had to be pulled from the rubble.
Rescuers pulled three people from the rubble but a man died at the scene. They were taken to nearby hospitals suffering from burns and a serious head injury.
Daniel Evans, who lives nearby, said: "I've just seen literally no house at all left, basically, and there's glass, bricks, smoke, dust everywhere." Neighbour Paul Redmond, 47, said the blast had rocked his home: "I was terrified I feared for my life. I've never heard a bang like it."
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said they were called to Stanley Road at 2140 BST and took two injured people to hospital. The courier company manager said that two houses on the street were completely destroyed and another was badly damaged.
"The first is a 26-year-old man suffering from a serious head injury. He had been putting his three children, Conor, eight, and daughters Aisling, 11, and Ciara, 13, to bed when the explosion happened at around 2140 BST.
It could be some time before we know exactly what has happened National Grid spokeswoman 'We heard voice from rubble' "He has been taken to Northwick Park hospital. It could be some time before we know exactly what has happened National Grid spokeswoman 'We heard voice from rubble' "I threw some clothes on them and we ran straight downstairs. Bits of rubblewere still falling off next door and people were in the street searching forsurvivors."
"The second is a 17-year-old female who is suffering from burns and has been taken to Chelsea and Westminster hospital," the spokesman said. A London Ambulance Service spokesman said a 26-year-old man suffering from a serious head injury and a 17-year-old female suffering from burns had been taken to hospital. The dead man's body was found in rubble.
Gas engineers are now trying to establish the cause of the blast. Six fire engines and 30 firefighters were called to the scene and police sealed off surrounding roads and set up a cordon.
A spokeswoman for Harrow Council said about 40 adults and children had to be evacuated from homes in Stanley Road and taken to a Royal British Legion building nearby.
"We are sorting out emergency accommodation for everybody. Some people havemedical requirements and we are making sure they are attended to."
Gas engineers are at the scene trying to establish the cause of the blast.
A National Grid spokeswoman said: "They will carry out some checks. It could be some time before we know exactly what has happened."A National Grid spokeswoman said: "They will carry out some checks. It could be some time before we know exactly what has happened."
Another neighbour, Dan Llewelyn-Hall, said he heard an enormous explosion which blew out his windows and doors. Another Harrow resident Daniel Evans described the moment the blast happened: "I was sitting down with my girlfriend watching TV and heard this loud bang and my flat started shaking.
"I've come out of my flat and everyone's started to look around. I've actually walked up to the road where the emergency services are going and I've walked round the corner and I've just seen literally no house at all left, basically, and there's glass, bricks, smoke, dust everywhere."
Another neighbour, Dan Llewelyn-Hall, said the explosion which blew out the windows and doors of his own home.
He said: "Looked out the window and the two houses were completely razed to the ground."He said: "Looked out the window and the two houses were completely razed to the ground."
Six fire engines and 30 firefighters remain at the scene.
Police have evacuated nearby homes, closed roads around the site and cordoned off the scene.
The blast site is less than half a mile from a block of flats where there was a gas explosion in February.
In that incident one man was injured and houses were evacuated.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Police attend the scene of the explosionPolice attend the scene of the explosion
Were you in Harrow during the explosion? Do you live in the area? Send us your experiences using the form below.Were you in Harrow during the explosion? Do you live in the area? Send us your experiences using the form below.
You can also send pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 or short code 61124You can also send pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 or short code 61124
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and videoClick here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name:
 Name: