Firefighters may not get into collapsed house 'for hours'

Firefighters believe that a couple may be inside a house which has collapsed after a suspected gas explosion in Derbyshire.

Speaking to ITV News, a spokesperson for the fire service said that the house was now so unstable that paramedics and firefighters could not get in, and would have to wait until the building was declared safe. He also said that that this process may take some hours.

Crews were called out to Valley View Road in the Riddings area of Alfreton at 7.33am when the alarm was raised by neighbours. An explosion was followed by a large fire, and one side of the house collapsed into the garage.

A Hazardous Area Response Team has been sent to support the fire service, and specially trained crews have been sent from Leicestershire to examine the building.