Two people have been taken to hospital a man suffering from burns and a woman with breathing problems in Newport.

A Road has been cordon off following an explosion.

A member of public reported hearing a loud bang just after lunchtime this afternoon (Sunday May 9) on Drill Hall Road, in Newport.

Fire, police and ambulance services attended the scene and the two injured people received treatment. There is also extensive damage to a property.

Fire crews from Newport fought a blaze in the Kitchen using a high-pressure hose.

Fire fighters evacuated neighbours while they extinguished the blaze.

A 65 year Pensioner named locally as Alan Barlow received flash burns to hands and face.

Police said that they are investigating the cause of the incident, which is thought to have been a gas explosion.

Group Manager Mark Deacon for IW Fire Service said, “That the Kitchen of the house, in the Carisbrooke part of the Island, was very badly damaged in what is thought to be a gas explosion”

A neighbour of Mr Barlow who lives in Drill Hall Road , said: “I heard the explosion and I thought it was something in my own house. It was absolutely deafening, like nothing I’d experienced before.

“You could smell this awful smell of gas and there was this guy outside the house calling for help You could see he was in pain . He had all burns to his hands and face.

UPDATED: 1611 MONDAY MAY 10

A police spokesman confirmed to the gazette that the enquiries into the incident is complete they not treating the incident as suspicious