A cordon around the scene of a house explosion has been reduced and residents are now able to return to their homes, police said.

Residents of the affected houses in Middlesbrough remain evacuated and alternative arrangements are in place following the suspected gas blast earlier today.

The roads have been reopened, but the area around the site is taped off because of the structural danger posed by the damaged building.

A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: “The cordon around the scene of a house explosion that occurred earlier today (June 18, 2024) in Middlesbrough has been reduced and residents of Ettington Avenue and Frampton Green are now able to return to their homes.

“Residents of the affected houses remain evacuated and alternative arrangements are in place.

“The roads in the area have now reopened, but the area around the site of the explosion remains cordoned off due to the structural danger posed by the damaged building.”

Cleveland Police Officers will continue to patrol the area overnight, and investigations are ongoing.

The force added: “We would like to thank members of the public for their patience whilst the area was made safe.”

Locals pulled a man from the rubble after he was badly injured in a suspected gas explosion which destroyed his home, a neighbour has said.

The seriously burned resident was flown to hospital following the blast, which happened at around 12.40pm on Tuesday in Kirkland Walk.

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Michael Clark, who lives with his wife in Kirkland Walk, told the PA news agency: “Three lads went in and pulled him out of the rubble.

“They didn’t hesitate, they went straight in, they were worried there was going to be another explosion.

“The man was screaming in the rubble.

“The man looked terrible when they brought him out.”

The 69-year-old added: “All his clothes were stuck to him and they looked like rags.

“His hair was all burned, everything, from top to bottom.”