A young child has been killed in a “devastating” explosion which caused two houses to collapse and damaged several others.
Residents described the noise of the blast as “like a bomb going off” with debris that covered nearby streets and fields.
Lancashire Police said they were called to the scene of the explosion in Heysham at 2.40am on Sunday after reports that “a number” of houses on Mallowdale Avenue had collapsed.
The force later confirmed the death of a child and said four people had been injured, two seriously.
It is suspected the damage was caused by a gas explosion.
Lancashire Fire said on Twitter that 10 units had been called to the terraced row and firefighters were searching a collapsed property.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Joe Edwards, Assistant Chief Constable of Lancashire Police, said: “Shortly after 2.40am this morning emergency services were called to residential properties following reports of a large explosion at the address.
