DEMOLITION experts were today due to return to the scene of a gas explosion which rocked a Burnley street and badly damaged two houses.

Engineers were in the process of pulling down the property in Lindsay Street following the blast which blew the roof off the mid-terrace house and left the front gable wall in danger of collapse.

The explosion, which happened at around 11am yesterday is believed to have been caused by a build-up of gas in the empty property.

A second house, also unoccupied, was also damaged in the blast which closed off the street.

Transco, the gas pipeline company, shut off the gas supply to the area.

Resident and eye-witness Dominic Bolchover, 15, said: "The noise of the explosion woke me up and I ran outside to see what was happening and I saw the front window of the house blow out into the street.

"There was glass everywhere and I called the fire brigade."

Station Officer Paul Harvey said: "We had reports of two explosions prior to our arrival and we went into the property with breathing apparatus. Once we had dealt with a couple of fires the extent of the damage became clear and a full structural inspection was carried out.

"The blast seems to have been caused by a build up of gas in the property after a gas pipe was left open."