Leicester 'blast' triggers police alert

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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.

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.

'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."

The affected property was a two floor building with a loft conversion that had suffered a "pancake collapse", she said.

Skip Twitter post by @leicspolice

| Major Incident |

19:19 |There has been a major incident on Hinckley Road, Leicester. All emergency services are currently dealing with this. Carlisle Street and part of Hinckley Road have been closed Please avoid the area.

— LeicestershirePolice (@leicspolice) February 25, 2018

End of Twitter post by @leicspolice

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.

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.

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