A suspected gas explosion is believed to have destroyed three houses, with emergency services declaring a major incident.

Read more: UPDATE: A young child has died and four have been injured in the explosion.

The fire service said on Twitter that 10 units were called to a row of homes on Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham around 2.30am on Sunday and that firefighters were searching a collapsed property.

They said: “A major incident has been declared after we (were) called to terraced houses on Mallowdale Avenue.

"It has been reported that there has been an explosion at a property and firefighters are searching the collapsed property.”

No information on any casualties has been made available, but several residents of the area tweeted that up to three houses had collapsed, and that emergency services sirens had been heard near the scene for a prolonged time.

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.”

Lancashire Police have put a safety cordon in place and nearby residents have been evacuated.

They said: “We are asking people to please avoid the entire area while we deal with this ongoing incident."

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

The service tweeted: “Following reports of an explosion on Mallowdale Avenue, #Heysham, we have resources at the scene and we are working with @LancashireFRS and @LancsPolice”.

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