Emergency crews, including search dogs, are searching the site this morning. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Beaming Prince Harry and Meghan enjoy a date night at exclusive $4,200-A-YEAR private members' club in LA - as friend claims they've been left furious over King Charles' 'cruel' decision to evict them from Frogmore Cottage, Biden LAUGHS at claim he was responsible for fentanyl overdoses of two brothers and says they died 'under the previous administration' - after mom's heartbreaking testimony to Congress, More than a DOZEN whistleblowers came forward to claim Hunter Biden was involved in criminal activity, Republican Senator reveals for the first time during grilling of AG Merrick Garland, Is air travel going to get even MORE expensive? George was described as a "beautiful little angel" by his parents who said they were devastated by his death. Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, has paid tribute to the young child who has passed away. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Four other people were hurt in the explosion, which destroyed two homes and seriously damaged a third. RIP little one. Road closures are in place on nearby Littledale Avenue and people are being asked to avoid the entire area while we deal with this ongoing incident. "It sounded like a bomb went off." The blast caused debris to cover nearby streets and fields and residents described it as sounding "like a bomb going off". A Lancashire Police spokesperson added: "We are currently at the scene of a suspected gas explosion on Mallowdale Avenue, Heysham. "He was so precious to us. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. A major incident has been declared in Heysham following a devastating gas explosion. In October, we made four arrests in connection with the investigation and today SharonGreenham,51, and Darren Greenham, 44, both of Ambleside Avenue, Lancaster were charged with manslaughterand theft. Play it now! "We can now confirm that sadly a young child has died as a result of the incident. He returns to the dock today as Honorary Recorder Robert Altham passes sentence. The emergency services, local authority and partners remain at the site and a safety cordon remains in place. A number of people have been evacuated from their homes and a safety cordon is in place. His defence asked for 25% credit on the basis of an indication of guilt to newly instructed solicitors and his memory loss. Firefighters had said there were "no quick answers" in the investigation. We were called to reports of an explosion on Mallowdale Avenue at about 2.40am on Sunday, May 16th2021. Gas service engineers are working to make the area safe. Morecambe Bay NHS Trust has tweeted their condolences. A witness who lives on a nearby street has told of the moment the explosion happened. The community is in shock following the explosion. Resident Susan Faulkner, 74, who lives further down Mallowdale Avenue, said the blast was like a bomb going off and that she was still shaken by the incident. They're both in bathrobes. This is the scene of the blast in Heysham. 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The fire service has confirmed that homes have been evacuated and they continue to urge people to stay away from the area. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? There is a woman who is in literally nothing but her nightie, she said. She'd rung three people to get away from the area but no one was answering so she was just going to walk the streets with her dog.". @ScottLancaster6 said he "heard it in Bowerham", seven miles (11km) from Heysham. A thorough investigation had shown the gas mains and pipes were sound, she said. There is no access to Littledale Avenue where the properties are located from either Kingsway or Mallowdale Avenue or Sugham Lane. The police enquiry is now being classed as a criminal investigation.'. Dan Knowles, who lives four streets away from the explosion, said he thought there had been an earthquake. We're bringing the live blog to a close now for today - our thoughts remain with everyone affected by today's tragic incident. READ MORE: Neighbour killed toddler in gas explosion caused by drunkenly cutting pipes. THE parents of a toddler who was killed in a suspected gas explosion have paid tribute to their "beautiful little angel". You can donate here: https://gofund.me/9fb52a30. We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. We have heard from an elderly couple who left in their pyjamas. Two other counts of criminal damage and theft of gas were also admitted in August. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Dan Knowles wrote on Twitter: "There's been a terrible explosion on Mallowdale Ave in #Heysham sounds disastrous, 3 houses collapsed, praying for everyone. Sharon Greenham and Darren Greenham charged with manslaughter and theft. One woman grips the hand of her child. "He was so precious to us. VideoThe man facing 291 years in jail, An audacious heist that stunned Britain. Darren Greenham will return to the dock today, where he sat with his head bowed thoughout much of yesterday's proceedings. All three will appear at Lancaster Magistrates' Court on 12 January. A community has been left in shock following a suspected gas explosion which tragically killed a child and left four people injured. Our sincere condolences are with their family and loved ones. A bed can be seen hanging down from an upstairs bedroom next door and personal items from the family are strewn throughout the ruins, Sky News reported. Members of George's family are sat in the public viewing seating, while the press have been moved to the jury box to allow for extra spaces. We'll have further updates on Lancs Live on Monday. ", George Hinds was described by his parents, Vicky Studholme and Stephen Hinds, as their "beautiful little angel.". Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? A house explosion which killed a child and injured four people was not caused by the gas mains, the company responsible for gas distribution said. Two-year-old George Hinds died in the blast on Mallowdale Avenue in Heysham, Lancashire, early on 16 May. In addition to the loss of their son, George's parents were left without anything. Electricity North West wrote on social media that it had paused electricity supplies to the area for safety reasons while the blast was being investigated. The general public has been fantastic and they have risen to the challenge.. Video, Watch: Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, An audacious heist that stunned Britain. We are setting this page up to raise funds to help the victims in any way possible and also to help towards funeral costs for the young child's family". By Gayle Rouncivell 24th May 2021, 5:34pm - 2 min read Updated 24th May 2021, 5:36pm Sales of energy drinks are rising, but are they better than coffee at keeping you alert? Twitter user @murphy30220538 posted a picture of the scene, saying three houses had collapsed after a "terrible explosion" that "sounds disastrous". She said the focus was now on establishing how and why the pipe came to be cut and that investigation would be "complex and lengthy". 'People have really pulled together as a community, it's really humbling. He said they met with the aftermath of a "significant explosion" and they prioritised rescuing those in properties and giving medical help to those who needed it. Lancashire Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said: Major incident declared in Heysham. George's dad turns to face Greenhall as the sentences are read out. Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. And in the early hours of May 16 last year, a huge explosion occurred with the homes either side of Greenham's completely destroyed. It looks like there's been a hurricane, but the residents of Bowland Street in Lancaster are walking around the aftermath of a gas explosion. They were taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged. Four people were taken to hospital, two with serious injuries, and sadly a young child has died as a result of the incident. Two houses were found collapsed with serious damage to a third property. We ask people to have patience and particularly to have the family that have been affected in mind.. Lancashire Fire said in a tweet that units were called to a row of terraced houses on Mallowdale Avenue in the early hours of Sunday and that firefighters are searching a collapsed property. Welcome to today's updates from Preston Crown Court. Two tragedies, two families torn apart, two little boys taken too soon.". 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