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| Leicester 'blast' triggers police alert | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police have declared a "major incident" after reports of an explosion in the Hinckley Road area of Leicester. | Police have declared a "major incident" after reports of an explosion in the Hinckley Road area of Leicester. |
| Emergency services were called to reports of a blast just after 19:00 GMT and said they were conducting a search and rescue operation at the scene. | Emergency services were called to reports of a blast just after 19:00 GMT and said they were conducting a search and rescue operation at the scene. |
| Carlisle Street and part of Hinckley Road have been closed and police are asking people to avoid the area. | Carlisle Street and part of Hinckley Road have been closed and police are asking people to avoid the area. |
| Six fire engines were at the scene, Leicestershire Police said. Pictures showed flames rising from a building. | Six fire engines were at the scene, Leicestershire Police said. Pictures showed flames rising from a building. |
| 'Pancake collapse' | 'Pancake collapse' |
| A Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "This is a search and rescue at the moment. It is unknown if people are injured or trapped." | A Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "This is a search and rescue at the moment. It is unknown if people are injured or trapped." |
| The affected property was a two floor building with a loft conversion that had suffered a "pancake collapse", she said. | The affected property was a two floor building with a loft conversion that had suffered a "pancake collapse", she said. |
| Alpana Marwaha, who lives nearby, told the BBC: "I heard a bang and the house shook. We could see the flames. | Alpana Marwaha, who lives nearby, told the BBC: "I heard a bang and the house shook. We could see the flames. |
| "You can still see the smoke coming, and the emergency services. There are few shops there and it is surrounded by houses," she added. | "You can still see the smoke coming, and the emergency services. There are few shops there and it is surrounded by houses," she added. |
| She said that it was worrying being so close to the explosion and she hoped the authorities would determine its cause. | |
| Pictures and video shared on social media appeared to show a shop engulfed in flames and the blaze visible from a distance. | Pictures and video shared on social media appeared to show a shop engulfed in flames and the blaze visible from a distance. |