Two injured men arrested after gas explosion rips through flat

Two men injured after a gas explosion tore through a flat have been arrested as police linked the blast to illegal drugs production.

Emergency services were called after the blast ripped the side out of the two-storey building in West Heath, Birmingham at 8.12pm on Sunday.

A 27-year-old man and a man in his 30s, who were in the maisonette at the time, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

They were both later arrested on suspicion of causing an explosion likely to endanger life.

Police also said they are investigating whether the flat was "linked to the production of illegal drugs".

Residents reported hearing a noise "like a bomb going off", which shook their houses and blew out windows.

The front of the property was "totally obliterated" and parts of the building could be seen scattered across gardens up to 40ft away.

Tony Rice, 50, who lives opposite, said: "I just heard this massive boom and I went outside and a front door frame had smashed my van window.

"I live over 40 metres away from the property so that shows the force of the explosion. The front of the property is wide open, it has ripped the walls clean off.

"I think one of the blokes lived upstairs and the other downstairs. The man from downstairs had his skin ripped off. He was in a bad way.

"The upstairs tenant was walking around but was obviously in a lot of shock, which I think masked the pain he was in.

"The force of it shook the foundations of my home - it was an incredibly powerful explosion and the walls just shuddered."

Another neighbour Eileen Priest, 40, added: "There was an almighty explosion and the house just shook to the core.

"My daughter said she actually saw a bloke running away form the scene in shorts.

"It was like a bomb going off and has obliterated the front of the property. I thought it was a car crash at first.

^{The front of the property was "totally obliterated" and parts of the building could be seen scattered across gardens up to 40ft away. Michael Scott / Demotix}

"We've had police, ambulance and fire all here, there were flashing blue lights everywhere. It is very shocking."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, added: "I was watching X-Factor when I heard this incredible bang and I looked outside and parts of the house were in my front garden.

"The blast had sent parts of the building just catapulting across the street - I could see door handles in the middle of the street.

"It was a noise like I had never heard, it left a ringing in my ears for a long time. I can't describe it. It was terrifying."

Chief Inspector Sean Russell, from West Midlands Police, said: "We want to make it clear that there is no ongoing threat to people living in the local community.

"This was an isolated explosion and work is continuing to identify what caused it. One line of enquiry is that it may have been linked to the production of illegal drugs.

"I would like to thank everyone for their support and patience during the emergency response last night. The investigation will continue this morning and the road will stay closed while enquiries continue."

Police said surrounding roads will be closed until further notice.