Man injured after explosion at a house in Yeadon
Emergency services were called last night.
Last updated 2nd Jan 2025
A man in his 50's is being treated for serious injuries after a house explosion in Leeds.
Emergency services were called to Yeadon just after 10.30pm last night.
Gas engineers have been at the scene overnight making the area safe, some people who were evacuated have been allowed back home.
Local resident Kim Swales called emergency services after her nearby home was shaken by the blast, which she said was "1,000 times louder" than the fireworks launched earlier that day to celebrate the New Year.
"It sounded like a sonic boom... my house shook, all the windows, doors, everything - it just shook,"
"My (15-year-old) daughter, she's autistic and blind, she came running down crying: 'What was that noise?'
"I got outside and straight away I could smell gas."
Walking towards the nearby home where she could see smoke rising, Ms Swales said there was "glass all over the street".
She said the windows of the home and those adjacent to it had all been "blown out", while some of the walls between the homes had collapsed.
Ms Swales welcomed a lady in her eighties from the house next door to the explosion into her home while emergency services attended to the scene.
"She's 85 this year, this lady, so it's a bit traumatic for her," Ms Swales said of the neighbour.
"She said she doesn't even remember hearing the bang - all she remembers was just the walls coming in and the dust.
"We're just a street away, house is warm and kettle were there - what more could you do? I sent the lady on with pyjamas and a dressing gown."
Ms Swales said the local council contacted her in the early hours of Thursday morning and transferred the elderly lady to a hotel.
A Police statement said:
"At 22.35 yesterday evening (1 January) Police received multiple calls of reports of an explosion at a house on Marshall Street, Yeadon.
"Emergency services attended to find the occupant of the house a 57 year old with serious injuries. He’s been taken to hospital for treatment.
"A number of houses on the cul-de-sac were evacuated for a short while. All residents apart from two properties have returned to their homes this morning.
"Initial investigations suggest it was a gas explosion, the source of the gas is currently under investigation.
"Gas mains have been made safe by Northern Gas.
"The two properties that have sustained substantial damage will be assessed by Leeds City Council engineers.
"A scene will remain in place this morning whilst enquiries are carried out."