Girl, 4, dies in house blast

‘I thought a bomb had gone off’...neighbours rescue three children after suspected gas leak

- John Twomey

A GIRL aged four was killed and three other people were critically hurt in a massive suspected gas explosion yesterday.

Children are said to be among those who suffered “life-threatening injuries.”

A woman and her four children lived at the home in Thornton Heath, south London.

Neighbour Awais Zahir, 26, said: “I went to the house and saw the mum come out.

“She was bleeding from both her hands and trying to look for her kids.

“She found all but one.

“The fire brigade have just told the  family she died. She was about four years old.”

Maureen Clare, 74, said: “They’re very lively kids, always mischievous, happy and bouncing around.”

The huge blast, described as like a bomb explosion, totally destroyed the terrace house on Galpin’s Road, wrecked the two next door and caused major damage to many other houses and vehicles just after 7am.

Residents said they had reported a strong gas smell two weeks ago.