Neighbour 'tried to save couple from blast'

A firefighter who lived nearby tried desperately to save the couple from their burning home. Credit: ITV Central

The neighbour of a couple who were killed in an explosion at a house in Alfreton has described how he desperately tried to save them.

Paul Archer - a firefighter at East Midlands Airport - was in bed when he heard the explosion which he described as like a landslide.

He put on his kit, rushed to the house and managed to get upstairs but could not rescue the couple inside because of the heat from the fire.

Police confirmed two people have been found dead at the house in Valley View Road in Alfreton.

The explosion happened at around 7.30 on Sunday morning.