Haxby house explosion: Man dead after suspected gas explosion which flattened home

A 63-year-old man has died after a suspected gas explosion obliterated a house, police said.

The blast reduced the house in Haxby, near York, to rubble and badly damaged surrounding properties.

Police said that they believe the man is a resident of the address and have informed members of his family.

"Formal identification is yet to take place. It will be some time before we can retrieve the body as the scene is still in a state of disarray,” an officer at the scene said.

“We need to be sure everyone is safe before doing that."

Emergency services were called to the detached building at around 7.30am, this morning, and believe the cause to be a gas explosion but this has not been confirmed yet.

Windows in the neighbouring houses in the leafy residential cul-de-sac were blown out and debris has been scattered across the road and gardens.