Rescuers unable to save couple after suspected gas explosion at home

A married couple have been killed after a suspected gas explosion tore through their property and blew the roof off their home.

The husband and wife, named locally as Shelley and Simon SaxtonCooper, were understood to have been asleep in their house in Riddings, Derbys, when the explosion took place early yesterday morning.

Neighbours said Mrs SaxtonCooper’s father made desperate attempts to save the couple but was beaten back by flames from an intense fire.

The couple are thought to have returned from a holiday to Norfolk on Saturday.

Five fire crews, three ambulances and an air ambulance attended the scene just after 7.30am, but firemen were initially unable to enter the house because the structure was feared to be unsafe.

An investigation has begun, but the explosion and fire are not thought to have been suspicious.

Paul Archer, 48, an off-duty fireman, went into the burning house after his wife saw what was going on and woke him up. But he said he had to get out because there was “too much heat”.

Neighbours paid tribute to the “lovely couple”, who are understood to have lived on the street for 25 years.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “I keep looking over at Simon and Shelley’s house and I can’t believe it.

“She was such a warm, bubbly woman, and he was a bit quieter, but so nice.

“They would walk their dog – Ellie I think she was called – every morning at about 6.30am.

“I thought they could have been out when it happened. I can’t believe it. It’s a tragedy.”