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A child has died after an explosion ripped apart a home in south London.

The terraced house in Thornton Heath was reduced to rubble this morning by a blast.

Rescue workers have been searching through the remains of the family home throughout the day.

Emergency services and neighbours managed to pull three children out of the wreckage but authorities have now confirmed another child was killed.

It’s unclear what triggered the blast, authorities said, but people living on the street said they had smelled what may have been gas in recent days.

Many said they had reported a strong gas smell two weeks ago, and others said they had been feeling dizzy and sick over the last two days.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘This morning, alongside colleagues from [London Fire Brigade], we attended an incident in Thornton Heath.

‘We treated four people. One was discharged and three others were taken to hospital. Sadly, a child was also pronounced dead at the scene.’

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Distressed neighbours watched on in their pyjamas as the search and rescue operation played out after being evacuated from their homes hours earlier.

Witnesses said windows on the side of the road were shattered by the force of the blast.

London Fire Brigade said crews have had to be drafted in from Norbury, Mitcham, West Norwood, Woodside and stations further afield to deal with the incident.

Around 40 firefighters were on the scene this morning, an LFB spokesperson said, after 999 calls started to flood in.

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