Hampton Hill explosion: 30 evacuated from homes in south-west London as large gas blast sparks blaze

A suspected explosion has forced scores of residents to be evacuated from their homes in south-west London.

Shocked witnesses described hearing a “boom” as a building on High Street in Hampton Hill caught fire on Tuesday night.

Dramatic images showed smoke billowing into the sky as firefighters tackled a blaze near a terrace of shops and homes.

Fire crews were first called to reports of a suspected explosion and fire at about 8.10pm, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.

LFB gave no further details on the cause of the blast.

Part of the high street and Windmill Road was closed off as fire crews remained at the scene into the evening.

Some 30 residents were evacuated from their homes.

One witness wrote on Twitter: “Lights flickered for a few minutes, then a boom from outside.

“A hundred yards away there’s now a building on fire. Fire, police, ambulances all in attendance. Police helicopter overhead.”