A gas explosion ripped through a house in Lewes in the early hours of this morning.

Neighbours in Hamsey Crescent were evacuated while the area was made safe.

The explosion caused severe structural damage to the semi-detached home, which has been left uninhabitable along with a neighbouring property.

No one was injured in the blast.

About 30 residents were woken by the explosion and evacuated into nearby streets. The owners of the house were not inside at the time.

Neighbour Heather Hill said: "We were evacuated for about 45 minutes, but luckily a kind lady who lives nearby took us in and gave us a cup of tea.

"The back of the building seems to have caved in."

Another neighbour, who declined to be named, said: "The explosion was like a loud thud that woke me up and then the police evacuated us."