A young child has died and four people have been injured in a suspected gas explosion in Lancashire.

Emergency services were called around 2.40am this morning (May 16) to reports that a number of houses on Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham, had collapsed following an explosion.

Two properties have collapsed and a third home has suffered serious damage. 

A spokesperson for the police said: "Our officers attended and found two houses collapsed and serious damage to a third property.

"We can now confirm that sadly a young child has died as a result of the incident.

"The family have been informed and our thoughts remain with them at this distressing time.

"Another four people, two men and two women have been taken to hospital with serious injuries."

A search of the site is still ongoing with the fire and ambulance service also in attendance.

A safety cordon has been put in place and nearby residents have been evacuated.

Road closures remain in place and people are being asked to avoid the entire area while police deal with the incident.

Several residents of the area tweeted that up to three houses had collapsed, and emergency services sirens had been heard near the scene for a prolonged time.

Dan Knowles, who lives four streets away from the explosion, said he thought there had been an earthquake.

“My wife and I thought there was an earthquake which woke us, the whole house shook,” he told the PA news agency.

“We immediately checked on our kids and got back in bed. We then heard sirens and my wife checked Facebook, when we found out that there’d been a gas explosion. We stayed indoors and switched everything off at the source and then sat up all night worrying.”

Local MP David Morris, who represents Morecambe and Lunesdale, wrote on Twitter: “My thoughts and prayers are with all of the families on Mallowdale Avenue following the incident this morning. Thank you to all of the emergency services who are currently on the scene.”

The North West Ambulance Service tweeted that it had sent units to the scene, with a priority to “ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible”.

Electricity North West wrote on social media that it had paused electricity supplies to the area for safety reasons while the blast was being investigated.