Wimbledon explosion: Gas blast in southwest London tears front off house

Neighbour treated in hospital and nearby homes evacuated after suspected gas leak

The explosion almost completely destroyed brickwork at the front of the house (Merton Police)

A powerful gas explosion tore the front off a house in southwest London, prompting the evacuation of a neighbourhood.

Emergency services were called to the property in Haynt Walk, Wimbledon, at around 6.30pm on Friday evening.

The blast was strong enough to blow out a large portion of brickwork from the front of the terraced home.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said no one was inside the house at the time of the explosion, but 18 neighbours were temporarily evacuated as a precaution.

No one is thought to have been physically injured in the incident, but two people were treated by London Ambulance Service for shock.

One was later taken to hospital, where his condition is described as stable.

The Metropolitan Police said the cause of the explosion had yet to be established, although it is not treating the incident as suspicious.

The Health and Safety Executive and the LFB have both launched investigations into the blast.