'IT'S SO SHOCKING, WE WERE ALL PETRIFIED'

Residents tell of horror as 'gas blast' destroys house

- By OSCAR FISHER

THE moment a house in a Derby street exploded, sending out “earthquake-like” shockwaves, has been described by shocked residents as a “terrifying” experience.

Emergency services were first called to reports of a possible gas explosion at a terraced property in Eden Street, Alvaston, at around 7.24pm on Tuesday. Police, fire crews and gasworkers remained at the scene more than 17 hours later.

One man was taken to hospital following the incident and a dog was also found with injuries overnight.

The extent of the man’s injuries remains unknown.

Residents in the area went from enjoying a normal Tuesday night to, within minutes, being at the heart of a serious incident - with some evacuated with no idea when they would be allowed back again.

One of these residents was Christina Harrison, who has lived in Eden Street, just four doors from the incident, for nine years. She described the terrifying ordeal, saying she thought the explosion happened in their house, and now waits for permission from the police to enter her home once again.

"I've never heard anything like it before," she said. "We'd just had tea and I was with my daughter sorting the kitchen out - I'm so lucky she was with me at the time.

"The bang went off and I just didn’t know where to run.