FIVE HURT AS GAS BLAST WRECKS PUB

The blast occurred in the old Florence Nightingale pub, on Beckett Street, in the Burmantofts area.

Police said the victims' injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Five fire engines, two ambulances and specialist rescue units were sent to the scene across the road from St James's Hospital.

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman confirmed the explosion was caused by gas.

She said: "Five people are currently being treated in hospital, the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening."

The pub, which had been closed down and boarded up for some time, was devastated in the blast, with only some of the outer walls remaining.

The roof of the building was believed to have been blown off and all the internal walls and floors were reduced to a pile of bricks and wood.

Debris from the blast was scattered over a car park immediately next door to the pub and at least a dozen cars appeared to have been wrecked.

A hospital spokeswoman said services at the hospital had not been affected despite the disruption to the local area.