Three taken to hospital and 14 homes evacuated after explosion ‘like nuclear bomb going off’

The blast just after midnight on Thursday led to 14 homes being evacuated, West Yorkshire Police said.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said six houses in Spring Hall Grove, which is near the town centre, were affected by the explosion.

A fire service spokesman said: "We sent five crews, plus the technical rescue and command unit.

"The explosion had affected six houses.

"Crews used large jets and an aerial ladder to extinguish the fire.

"Three people were taken to hospital."

Police said two of those were seriously injured while the third received treatment for minor injuries.

The force said: "Officers at the scene assisted with closing the road and evacuating the occupants of 14 houses.

"Two people from one property were taken to hospital with serious injuries and a third person, from another property, has received treatment for minor injuries.

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"The cause of the explosion remains under investigation."

The explosion is not thought to be related to a fault on the gas network.

Northern Gas Networks said: "We are working closely with the emergency services to support the incident, which is not suspected to be related to our network."