Four people critically hurt in blast

Four people are in a critical condition in hospital after a suspected explosion destroyed a shop and flat.

Police declared a major incident after the blast on Hinckley Road, Leicester just after 7pm last night.

Video taken at the scene showed flames billowing into the night sky.

One clip appeared to show emergency services rushing to help someone close to what is believed to be a convenience store engulfed in flames visible from a distance.

The building appears to have stood next to a shop called TJ’s Takeaway.

All four casualties were taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary, East Midlands Ambulance Service said.

Speaking to Sky News, Kat Pattinson, who lives on the same road as the fire, said: “We are down the same street – about 500m from where the blast has taken place and our whole house shook.

“We checked on our children first and foremost and then we went outside.

“There is just an awful lot of smoke here at the moment and the whole area is cordoned off.”

She added that the shop is usually open until about 9pm on a Sunday and has a flat above it.

Leicester Royal Infirmary tweeted: “We can confirm that four patients from the scene have been taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary in a critical condition.”

Picture: PA. A video grab of the scene in Leicester after a major incident was declared by police after the explosion.