Structural engineers checking gas blast house

Fire investigators trying to find out why a gas blast wrecked a house and left two people seriously injured must wait until the building is made safe.

The property in Stockhill Lane, Stockhill, was wrecked by the blast on Sunday night.

A woman in her 40s and a man in his late 30s are in a critical condition in hospital.

Structural engineers have been assessing the extent of the damage to the house and adjoining building.

On Monday evening, Nottingham City Homes, which manages the house, confirmed a new boiler was installed six weeks ago.

The explosion was heard up to half a mile away and caused part of the house's rear wall to collapse and much of the first floor to give way.

Nottingham City Homes, which manages about 29,000 properties in the city, said it had been carrying out renovations at the house.

A spokesman added that it would be working with other agencies to discover what had caused the blast.

Nottinghamshire police also said they would wait until structural engineers had declared the building safe before an investigation could fully begin.

The man and woman injured in the incident have not yet been officially named.