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Ascot homes evacuated after suspected gas explosion | Ascot homes evacuated after suspected gas explosion |
(40 minutes later) | |
Two people have been airlifted to hospital with burn injuries following a suspected gas explosion in Berkshire. | Two people have been airlifted to hospital with burn injuries following a suspected gas explosion in Berkshire. |
Thames Valley Police were called to a "badly damaged" detached house on Sutherland Chase, Ascot, at 12:23 GMT. | Thames Valley Police were called to a "badly damaged" detached house on Sutherland Chase, Ascot, at 12:23 GMT. |
Engineers from National Grid, which is responsible for gas supplies in the area, attended the incident alongside Berkshire fire service. | |
A number of properties in Sutherland Chase and nearby Nash Gardens have been evacuated by the police. | A number of properties in Sutherland Chase and nearby Nash Gardens have been evacuated by the police. |
Neighbours said the front of the house was demolished, leaving the top of the stairs exposed and a large amount of rubble in front of it. | Neighbours said the front of the house was demolished, leaving the top of the stairs exposed and a large amount of rubble in front of it. |
'Windows shook' | 'Windows shook' |
The condition of the man and woman who were taken to hospital in Southampton is not yet known, but there are not believed to be any other casualties. | The condition of the man and woman who were taken to hospital in Southampton is not yet known, but there are not believed to be any other casualties. |
A spokesman for National Grid said engineers had cut off the gas supply to the property. | |
But he added that it was "too early to speculate on the cause of the explosion at this time". | |
A police cordon is in place and an investigation is under way. | A police cordon is in place and an investigation is under way. |
Samantha Billingham, who lives on Sutherland Chase, said her husband witnessed the explosion. | Samantha Billingham, who lives on Sutherland Chase, said her husband witnessed the explosion. |
"He heard a really loud noise and our windows shook," she said. | "He heard a really loud noise and our windows shook," she said. |
Roger Crunden, who also lives in a nearby property, said: "It was how I imagined a bomb going off to sound." | Roger Crunden, who also lives in a nearby property, said: "It was how I imagined a bomb going off to sound." |