Wimbledon gas explosion: Man taken to hospital after front of house blows off in south-west London

A man was taken to hospital after a gas explosion ripped off the front of a house in south-west London.

Police, fire and ambulance services scrambled to the scene after both floors and the roof of the terraced house in Haynt Walk, Wimbledon, were damaged by the explosion on Friday.

Some 18 people in adjoining houses evacuated their homes following the incident shortly before 6.30pm.

Scotland Yard said two people were treated for shock and a man who lived near to the house was taken to hospital as a precaution.

While the cause of the explosion has not yet been established, it is not believed to be suspicious.

The Health and Safety Executive and London Fire Brigade will be looking into the circumstances of the incident.

Concerned neighbours tweeted after the incident.

One Wimbledon resident said: "The house is wrecked! Thank goodness no one was in the house."

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said: "A mid-terraced house of two floors was damaged by a gas explosion.

"Eighteen people left adjoining properties before the arrival of the brigade.

"All persons from the house were accounted for," she added.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called at approximately 6.25pm on Friday, October 19 to reports of a suspected gas related explosion at a residential address on Haynt Walk.

"Emergency services attended. There were no physical injuries. Two people were spoken to as they were believed to be experiencing shock.

"A man who lived nearby was taken to hospital as a precaution. His condition is stable.

"A number of houses were temporarily evacuated as a precaution."